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Resources and Operations

The ArcGIS REST system is a hierarchy of resources. While some resources are in and by themselves (catalog, map, layer, etc.), other resources are produced as a result of an operation. For instance - exporting a map results in a map image resource or querying a layer results in a result set resource. So although in both cases the client always gets back a representation of a resource, they are referred to as:

The hierarchy can be broken down the following way:

Resources and Operations

Catalog

The root of the URL hierarchy represents the catalog of folders and services published using the ArcGIS Server. Each folder in turn also represents a catalog of services published within that folder.

Map Service Hierarchy

When users publish a map service and make it available through the REST API, they get access to a hierarchy of resources such as the map service itself, map tiles and layers. Additionally, they can also execute operations on these resources such as exporting maps and executing queries.

Geocode Service Hierarchy

When users publish a geocode service and make it available through the REST API, they get access to the geocode service resource. Additionally, they can also execute operations on the geocoder such as finding address candidates and reverse geocoding.

Geoprocessing Service Hierarchy

When users publish a geoprocessing service and make it available through the REST API, they get access to a hierarchy of resources such as the geoprocessing service itself, tasks and jobs. Additionally, they can also execute operations such as executing tasks and submitting jobs.

Geometry Service Hierarchy

A geometry service contains utility methods, which provide access to sophisticated and frequently used geometric operations. An ArcGIS Server Web site can only expose one geometry service with the static name "Geometry".

Image Service Hierarchy

When users publish an image service and make it available through the REST API, they get read-only access to a mosaicked collection of images or a raster data set that make up an image service resource. Additionally, the export map operation is available.

Network, GeoData, and Globe Hierarchy

The Network, GeoData, and Globe services running on a site are available through the REST API but have no operations associated with them.