ArcGIS Geometry Operations

Use this skill for creating geometries and performing spatial operations with geometry operators.

Important: The geometryEngine and geometryEngineAsync modules were removed in v5.0 (deprecated since 4.29). Use geometry operators exclusively.

Import Patterns

Direct ESM Imports

import Point from "@arcgis/core/geometry/Point.js";
import Polygon from "@arcgis/core/geometry/Polygon.js";
import bufferOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/bufferOperator.js";
import unionOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/unionOperator.js";

Dynamic Imports (CDN)

const Point = await $arcgis.import("@arcgis/core/geometry/Point.js");
const [bufferOperator, unionOperator] = await $arcgis.import([
  "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/bufferOperator.js",
  "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/unionOperator.js",
]);

Geometry Classes Overview

Class	Use Case	Import Path
Point	Single location (x, y, z, m)	geometry/Point.js
Polyline	Lines and paths	geometry/Polyline.js
Polygon	Areas with rings	geometry/Polygon.js
Multipoint	Collection of points	geometry/Multipoint.js
Extent	Bounding box	geometry/Extent.js
Circle	Circular geometry	geometry/Circle.js
Mesh	3D mesh with vertices and faces	geometry/Mesh.js

Creating Geometries

Point

// Using autocast (plain object)
const point = {
  type: "point",
  longitude: -118.80657,
  latitude: 34.02749,
  z: 1000,
  spatialReference: { wkid: 4326 },
};

// Using x, y coordinates (projected)
const point = {
  type: "point",
  x: -13044706,
  y: 4036320,
  spatialReference: { wkid: 102100 },
};

Polyline

const polyline = {
  type: "polyline",
  paths: [
    [
      [-118.821, 34.014],
      [-118.815, 34.014],
      [-118.809, 34.01],
    ],
  ],
  spatialReference: { wkid: 4326 },
};

// Multi-path
const multiPath = {
  type: "polyline",
  paths: [
    [
      [-118.821, 34.014],
      [-118.815, 34.014],
    ],
    [
      [-118.815, 34.022],
      [-118.813, 34.022],
    ],
  ],
};

Polygon

const polygon = {
  type: "polygon",
  rings: [
    // Outer ring (clockwise)
    [
      [-118.818, 34.02],
      [-118.807, 34.02],
      [-118.807, 34.029],
      [-118.818, 34.029],
      [-118.818, 34.02],
    ],
    // Inner ring/hole (counter-clockwise)
    [
      [-118.815, 34.022],
      [-118.81, 34.022],
      [-118.81, 34.026],
      [-118.815, 34.026],
      [-118.815, 34.022],
    ],
  ],
  spatialReference: { wkid: 4326 },
};

Extent

const extent = {
  type: "extent",
  xmin: -118.82,
  ymin: 34.01,
  xmax: -118.8,
  ymax: 34.03,
  spatialReference: { wkid: 4326 },
};

Circle

import Circle from "@arcgis/core/geometry/Circle.js";

const circle = new Circle({
  center: [-118.80657, 34.02749],
  radius: 1000,
  radiusUnit: "meters",
  geodesic: true,
  spatialReference: { wkid: 4326 },
});

Multipoint

const multipoint = {
  type: "multipoint",
  points: [
    [-118.821, 34.014],
    [-118.815, 34.014],
    [-118.809, 34.01],
  ],
  spatialReference: { wkid: 4326 },
};

Geometry Operators

Each operator is imported individually for tree-shaking. Some operators require await operator.load() before use.

Buffer Operations

import bufferOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/bufferOperator.js";

await bufferOperator.load();

// Simple buffer (distance in meters by default)
const buffered = bufferOperator.execute(point, 1000);

// Buffer with unit
const buffered = bufferOperator.execute(point, 500, { unit: "meters" });

// Geodesic buffer (for geographic coordinates)
import geodesicBufferOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/geodesicBufferOperator.js";

await geodesicBufferOperator.load();
const geoBuffered = geodesicBufferOperator.execute(point, 1000, {
  unit: "meters",
});

Spatial Relationships

All relationship operators return a boolean.

import containsOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/containsOperator.js";
import withinOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/withinOperator.js";
import intersectsOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/intersectsOperator.js";
import crossesOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/crossesOperator.js";
import overlapsOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/overlapsOperator.js";
import touchesOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/touchesOperator.js";
import disjointOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/disjointOperator.js";
import equalsOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/equalsOperator.js";

// Contains - geometry1 completely contains geometry2
containsOperator.execute(polygon, point); // boolean

// Within - geometry1 is completely within geometry2
withinOperator.execute(point, polygon); // boolean

// Intersects - geometries share any space
intersectsOperator.execute(polygon1, polygon2); // boolean

// Crosses, Overlaps, Touches, Disjoint, Equals
crossesOperator.execute(line, polygon);
overlapsOperator.execute(polygon1, polygon2);
touchesOperator.execute(polygon1, polygon2);
disjointOperator.execute(polygon1, polygon2);
equalsOperator.execute(geom1, geom2);

Set Operations

import unionOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/unionOperator.js";
import intersectionOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/intersectionOperator.js";
import differenceOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/differenceOperator.js";
import symmetricDifferenceOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/symmetricDifferenceOperator.js";
import clipOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/clipOperator.js";

// Union - combine geometries
const combined = unionOperator.execute([polygon1, polygon2, polygon3]);

// Intersection - common area
const common = intersectionOperator.execute(polygon1, polygon2);

// Difference - subtract geometry2 from geometry1
const diff = differenceOperator.execute(polygon1, polygon2);

// Symmetric Difference - areas in either but not both
const symDiff = symmetricDifferenceOperator.execute(polygon1, polygon2);

// Clip - clip geometry by extent
const clipped = clipOperator.execute(polygon, extent);

Measurements

import areaOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/areaOperator.js";
import geodeticAreaOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/geodeticAreaOperator.js";
import lengthOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/lengthOperator.js";
import geodeticLengthOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/geodeticLengthOperator.js";
import distanceOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/distanceOperator.js";
import geodeticDistanceOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/geodeticDistanceOperator.js";

// Area (polygons)
const area = areaOperator.execute(polygon);
const geoArea = geodeticAreaOperator.execute(polygon, {
  unit: "square-kilometers",
});

// Length (polylines)
const length = lengthOperator.execute(polyline);
const geoLength = geodeticLengthOperator.execute(polyline, {
  unit: "kilometers",
});

// Distance between geometries
const dist = distanceOperator.execute(point1, point2);
const geoDist = geodeticDistanceOperator.execute(point1, point2, {
  unit: "kilometers",
});

Geometry Manipulation

import simplifyOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/simplifyOperator.js";
import generalizeOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/generalizeOperator.js";
import densifyOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/densifyOperator.js";
import offsetOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/offsetOperator.js";
import convexHullOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/convexHullOperator.js";
import centroidOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/centroidOperator.js";
import labelPointOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/labelPointOperator.js";

// Simplify - remove self-intersections
const simplified = simplifyOperator.execute(polygon);

// Generalize - reduce vertices
const generalized = generalizeOperator.execute(polyline, {
  maxDeviation: 100,
  unit: "meters",
});

// Densify - add vertices
const densified = densifyOperator.execute(polyline, {
  maxSegmentLength: 100,
  unit: "meters",
});

// Offset - create parallel geometry
const offsetGeom = offsetOperator.execute(polyline, {
  distance: 50,
  unit: "meters",
  joinType: "round",
});

// Convex Hull
const hull = convexHullOperator.execute(polygon);

// Centroid
const center = centroidOperator.execute(polygon);

// Label Point (guaranteed inside polygon)
const label = labelPointOperator.execute(polygon);

Available Operators

Category	Operators
Relationship	containsOperator, crossesOperator, disjointOperator, equalsOperator, intersectsOperator, isNearOperator, overlapsOperator, relateOperator, touchesOperator, withinOperator
Set Operations	clipOperator, cutOperator, differenceOperator, intersectionOperator, symmetricDifferenceOperator, unionOperator
Buffer	bufferOperator, geodesicBufferOperator, graphicBufferOperator
Shape	autoCompleteOperator, boundaryOperator, convexHullOperator, simplifyOperator, simplifyOGCOperator, alphaShapeOperator, minimumBoundingCircleOperator
Measurement	areaOperator, geodeticAreaOperator, lengthOperator, geodeticLengthOperator, distanceOperator, geodeticDistanceOperator
Transform	densifyOperator, geodeticDensifyOperator, generalizeOperator, offsetOperator, affineTransformOperator, reshapeOperator, extendOperator
Analysis	centroidOperator, labelPointOperator, proximityOperator, geodesicProximityOperator
Projection	projectOperator, shapePreservingProjectOperator
Conversion	linesToPolygonsOperator, multiPartToSinglePartOperator, polygonSlicerOperator, polygonOverlayOperator

Projection (projectOperator)

import projectOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/projectOperator.js";

await projectOperator.load();

// Project to new spatial reference
const projected = projectOperator.execute(geometry, { wkid: 4326 });

// With geographic transformation
const projected = projectOperator.execute(
  geometry,
  { wkid: 4326 },
  {
    geographicTransformation: {
      steps: [{ wkid: 108190 }],
    },
  },
);

For details on coordinate systems and transformations, see arcgis-coordinates-projection.

Web Mercator Utilities

import webMercatorUtils from "@arcgis/core/geometry/support/webMercatorUtils.js";

const webMercatorGeom =
  webMercatorUtils.geographicToWebMercator(geographicPoint);
const geoGeom = webMercatorUtils.webMercatorToGeographic(webMercatorPoint);
const canProject = webMercatorUtils.canProject(
  geom1.spatialReference,
  geom2.spatialReference,
);

Mesh (3D Geometry)

import Mesh from "@arcgis/core/geometry/Mesh.js";

const box = Mesh.createBox(location, {
  size: { width: 100, height: 100, depth: 50 },
  material: { color: "red" },
});

const sphere = Mesh.createSphere(location, {
  size: 50,
  material: { color: "blue" },
});

const cylinder = Mesh.createCylinder(location, {
  size: { width: 50, height: 100 },
  material: { color: "green" },
});

// Load from glTF/GLB
const mesh = await Mesh.createFromGLTF(location, "model.glb");

JSON Utilities

import jsonUtils from "@arcgis/core/geometry/support/jsonUtils.js";

// Create geometry from JSON
const geometry = jsonUtils.fromJSON({
  rings: [
    [
      [-118.8, 34.0],
      [-118.7, 34.0],
      [-118.7, 34.1],
      [-118.8, 34.1],
      [-118.8, 34.0],
    ],
  ],
  spatialReference: { wkid: 4326 },
});

// Get JSON from geometry
const json = geometry.toJSON();

Common Patterns

Check if Point is in Polygon

import containsOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/containsOperator.js";

function isPointInPolygon(point, polygon) {
  return containsOperator.execute(polygon, point);
}

Buffer and Query

import geodesicBufferOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/geodesicBufferOperator.js";

async function queryWithinDistance(point, distance, layer) {
  await geodesicBufferOperator.load();
  const bufferGeom = geodesicBufferOperator.execute(point, distance, {
    unit: "meters",
  });
  const query = layer.createQuery();
  query.geometry = bufferGeom;
  query.spatialRelationship = "contains";
  return await layer.queryFeatures(query);
}

Calculate Total Area

import unionOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/unionOperator.js";
import geodeticAreaOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/geodeticAreaOperator.js";

function calculateTotalArea(polygons) {
  const combined = unionOperator.execute(polygons);
  return geodeticAreaOperator.execute(combined, { unit: "square-kilometers" });
}

Common Pitfalls

1. Spatial reference mismatch: Always ensure geometries are in the same spatial reference before operations:

   import projectOperator from "@arcgis/core/geometry/operators/projectOperator.js";
   await projectOperator.load();
   if (!geom1.spatialReference.equals(geom2.spatialReference)) {
     geom2 = projectOperator.execute(geom2, geom1.spatialReference);
   }
   

2. Geodesic vs planar: Use geodesic operators for geographic coordinates (WGS84/4326). Use planar operators for projected coordinate systems:

   const bufferOp = geometry.spatialReference.isGeographic
     ? geodesicBufferOperator
     : bufferOperator;
   

3. Ring orientation: Outer rings must be clockwise, holes counter-clockwise. Use simplifyOperator if unsure.

4. Self-intersecting polygons: Use simplifyOperator.execute(polygon) before operations on user-drawn polygons.

5. Forgetting to load operators: Some operators require await operator.load() before calling .execute(). Check operator documentation.

6. Using removed geometryEngine: The geometryEngine and geometryEngineAsync modules were removed in 5.0. Use individual operators instead.

Reference Samples

• ge-geodesicbuffer - Geodesic buffer operations
• gx-geodesicbuffer - Geodesic buffer (alternate)
• geometry-operator-centroid - Computing geometry centroids
• geometry-operator-offset-visualizer - Visualizing geometry offsets
• geometry-operator-proximity - Proximity analysis with geometry operators
• geometry-operator-worker - Running geometry operations in a web worker
• geometry-mesh-primitives - 3D mesh primitive creation
• geometry-mesh-elevation - 3D mesh with elevation

Related Skills

• See arcgis-coordinates-projection for coordinate systems, projection details, and coordinate formatting.
• See arcgis-rest-services for server-side geometry operations via geometry service.
• See arcgis-spatial-analysis for analysis objects and feature reduction.