What is a GIS Feature Service?
An in-depth explanation of GIS Feature Services. Learn how they differ from Map Services and why they are essential for modern, interactive web mapping applications.
In the world of modern GIS, the "Feature Service" is the most important building block for interactive web applications. But what exactly is it, and how does it differ from traditional map services?
The Definition
A Feature Service is a web API that provides access to a collection of geographic features. Unlike a Map Service (which returns pre-rendered images), a Feature Service returns the raw vector geometry and attributes of the data.
In the ArcGIS ecosystem, this is often referred to as a FeatureServer.
Map Service vs. Feature Service
| Feature | Map Service (MapServer) | Feature Service (FeatureServer) |
|---|---|---|
| Returns | Images (PNG/JPEG) | Vector Data (JSON/GeoJSON) |
| Client Interaction | Limited to viewing and basic identify | Full querying, editing, and analysis |
| Styling | Server-controlled | Client-controlled |
| Use Case | Basemaps, fast display | Data entry, analysis, custom apps |
What Can You Do with a Feature Service?
- Query: Request specific features based on attributes or spatial boundaries.
- Edit: Add, update, or delete features (if the service allows it).
- Analyze: Perform spatial calculations directly on the server.
- Download: Extract the raw data into formats like Shapefile or GeoJSON.
The REST Architecture
Feature Services are built on REST (Representational State Transfer) architecture. This means you interact with them using standard HTTP requests. You simply construct a URL with specific parameters to tell the server exactly what data you want.
https://services.arcgis.com/.../FeatureServer/0/query?where=1=1&outFields=*Extracting Data from Feature Services
Because Feature Services contain the actual data, they are the preferred source for downloading datasets. Our Geo Server Data Downloader is designed specifically to connect to Feature Services, handle the pagination, and export the data into standard GIS formats.
Summary
Feature Services are the foundation of interactive web GIS. They provide the raw data necessary for complex analysis, custom symbology, and data extraction, making them vastly superior to traditional Map Services for analytical workflows.
Ready to try it yourself?
Export ArcGIS REST services, WFS endpoints, and ArcGIS Online datasets to Shapefile, GeoJSON, KML, or GeoPackage — all in your browser.
Open the Downloader