topic Re: What's the difference between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer? in ArcGIS Online Questions

What's the difference between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer?

ThomasMathew1 — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 06:11:58 GMT

A Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer are both types of items in ArcGIS Online.

A Feature Layer (hosted, view) is created using the 'Create View' option available in the Item details page of a hosted feature layer.

A Feature Layer is created using the Simple Copy option of ArcGIS Online Assistant.

Other than the way these two items are created, are there any differences between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer?

Re: What's the difference between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer?

JayantaPoddar — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 06:31:10 GMT

Some info. in Getting started with hosted feature layer views.

Re: What's the difference between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer?

FC_Basson — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 06:37:19 GMT

And some more info: Features vs. feature services in ArcGIS Online | ArcGIS Blog

Re: What's the difference between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer?

ThomasMathew1 — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 12:05:20 GMT

Jayanta Poddar‌ FC Basson‌

Thank you for the links. However, they do not answer my query on the difference between the two items. To me, its already clear what is a feature service, a hosted feature layer and a hosted layer feature view in ArcGIS Online.

However, the items Feature Layer and Feature Layer (hosted, view) seem to be the same although having different names in ArcGIS Online. Are there any differences between these two other than the name? - this is what I'm hoping to understand.

Re: What's the difference between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer?

JayantaPoddar — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 12:33:55 GMT

A hosted feature layer view would be more robust in use. A hosted feature layer view (a replica) is generated from a hosted feature layer (original).

Hosted Feature Layer Views

If you have publishing privileges and need a different view of your hosted feature layer beyond changing its style and presentation—for example, you want to apply different editing capabilities or share the data with different groups—you can create a hosted feature layer view from your hosted feature layer. A hosted feature layer view is similar to a copy of a layer but is more powerful because it allows you to control more than just how the layer is displayed. For example, you might create a hosted feature layer view when you need to support different editing capabilities for different groups of people. Many organizations need to share data with the public and simultaneously allow members within the organization to keep that data up to date. Hosted feature layer views provide a direct way to do this. When you publish your hosted feature layer, you can share it with particular members of your organization who need to edit it. Then, for the general public, you can create a hosted feature layer view that references the original hosted feature layer but with editing disabled. Because the two layers share the same data, as members edit the original hosted feature layer, the general public will see those changes immediately.
When you create a hosted feature layer view, a new feature layer item is added to My Content. Because it is a separate layer, you can change its style, filters, and sharing properties without affecting the source hosted feature layer. However, because the hosted feature layer view accesses the same data as the hosted feature layer it was created from, updates made to the data through the original hosted feature layer appear in the hosted feature layer view. Similarly, if you edit the data through the hosted feature layer view, your changes appear in the hosted feature layer. Only the owner of a hosted feature layer can create a hosted feature layer view from the original layer. This is different than copying a layer, which can be done by non-owners and even public users.

Re: What's the difference between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer?

ThomasMathew1 — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 13:47:16 GMT

Thanks! Jayanta Poddar‌. For others coming here with the same query, check jayanta.poddar‌'s link as well.

Re: What's the difference between a Feature Layer (hosted, view) and a Feature Layer?

kathyhardinwalker — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 21:45:51 GMT

That was an excellent explanation, thank you for taking the time to write it all out.