How to Read Meta Data of each layer in a map service?

[ZachLiu1]

I know the Meta Data or Item Description of the map service can be read  through REST API. But is there a way I can get access to the Meta Data/Item Description of each layer of the service?

[BhavdeepSachdev]

You can always append "?f=json" at the end of the rest api url and parse the resulting json in javascript.
Of course you'll have to send an ajax request to fetch the json.

e.g.
http://sampleserver1.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Demographics/ESRI_Census_USA/MapServer/0

can be retrieved as json by appending the ?f=json
http://sampleserver1.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Demographics/ESRI_Census_USA/MapServer/0?...

[JeffJacobson · Accepted solution]

Unless they added this feature at 10.2, you will need to use a Server Object Extension to access layer metadata.

Note that the use of a Server Object Extension is only an option for your own ArcGIS Servers.

[ZachLiu1]

Really thanks Jeff!:)