ArcGIS API for JavaScript 4.1

The ArcGIS API for JavaScript provides efficient support for creating web mapping apps that use the spatial capabilities of the ArcGIS platform. It allows applications to visualize maps, preconfigured content and services, create driving directions and routes, perform geometric calculations, and much more - all for popular browsers on desktops and mobile devices.

Thanks to the support of HTML5 and CSS3 components, the performance and flexibility of the apps can be increased. Also useful are practical widgets, flexible UI configuration tools, and pop-responsive design pop-ups.

With the 4.x series of the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, Esri has released a new revised version which now also supports web maps and functions in 3D. The goal was to make the use of 3D web maps as easy as 2D Web maps. The API was fundamentally redesigned. A new uniform programming model allows the same implementation of layers, rendering, tasks, geometry, symbolization, pop-ups and navigation as for 2D applications. In addition, the atmosphere, light conditions as well as camera angles can be modified - this ensures a particularly realistic display.

The highlights in the new version 4.1 are:

• Support for additional functions with Dynamic MapServices

 With Dynamic MapServices the presentation and content of the service can be dynamically adapted. Among other things, dynamic pop-ups, labels and data layers can be used.

New 3D Layer IntegratedMeshLayer

This allows realistic textures such as house façades and trees from 3D objects to be created.

• Interact with subsurface data

•  New CSV layer

Very simple representation of Geo objects from .csv files.

• Writing WebScenes

WebMaps are configurations for complete 2D maps and for 3D maps it is WebScenes. These WebScenes can now be recreated by Web developers or modified.

• PrintTask for printing maps (2D only)

A ready-to-use task for printing 2D maps and content using a print service.   The 3.x series and the 4.x series of the ArcGIS API for JavaScript are developed in parallel and there will be a time-lapse, as long as the 4.x series contains all the functions of the previous version. For new projects it is generally recommended to use the 4.x series, unless functions from the 3.x series are missing. A decision matrix helps to make the right choice.  

Also note Migrating from 3.x to 4.x. For more information on the ArcGIS API for JavaScript 4.1, go to the Esri Blog.