REST

Representational State Transfer (REST) is an inherently lightweight and intuitive environment for creating map images with ArcWeb Services. The REST API permits you make requests to ArcWeb Services via a URL.

Use REST to create maps in raster and vector formats; add acetate lines, points, and polygons; add graticules, legends, north arrows, and scale bars; and take advantage of auto projections and best data source (bam).

Tutorials and samples can help you get started with REST.

• The tutorials demonstrate how to obtain a REST token and the cmr value.
• The samples contain a variety of URL requests, downloadable code, and an interactive live map.
• SVG Map Viewer is an interactive vector-mapping sample that uses REST mapping (v2006). You can download the code and related samples.

What the API can do

• Create vector maps with polygons, lines, and points.
• Re-center or pan map.
• Turn layers on and off.
• Work with group layers.
• Get latitude-longitude, map center, and map extent.
• Add a graticule, legend, north arrow, and scale bar to vector maps.
• Use the best map projection or specify a map projection for vector maps.
• Return a URL for a given map area.
• Generate an authentication token or UserID.