Chapter 3. Working with the REST API
This chapter covers
- Understanding the basics of the ArcGIS Server REST API
- Building custom widgets by using the REST API
- Using the Dojo loader
- Performing analysis with the geometry service
Chapter 2 covered examples of building simple mapping applications by using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. These applications may not have been difficult, but they introduced core functions of the JavaScript API. One of the cool things about the API is that, like many other JavaScript libraries, it abstracts away some of the nitty-gritty work being done behind the curtain. Where does all that fancy mapping data come from? By looking at how the JavaScript API interacts with ArcGIS Server, you’ll have a better grasp of what it might take to build your own custom components that may not be provided in the ArcGIS API for JavaScript.