As GIS becomes more widely adopted across organisations, the need to make spatial data editing accessible to different users continues to grow. While GIS professionals have traditionally relied on desktop applications for advanced editing tasks, web-based solutions are making it easier for teams to contribute to, update, and maintain geographic data from virtually anywhere.

The ArcGIS platform offers several applications that support web-based editing, each designed to address different workflows and user requirements. Whether you need a straightforward editing environment, a configurable application, or a fully customised solution, there are options to suit your needs.

But with several tools available, how do you determine which one is right for your organisation?

This guide explores five ArcGIS options for web-based data editing and highlights the scenarios where each can be most useful.

Start with a Well-Configured Web Map

Before selecting an editing application, it is important to prepare your web map. A web map provides the foundation for editing across ArcGIS applications. Its configuration determines what users can access and how they interact with geographic data.

Some important considerations include:

• Layer settings: Define which layers users can edit and the operations they can perform.
• Editing forms: Configure editable fields, related records, and other data entry requirements.
• Symbology and visibility: Organise how features appear on the map.
• Pop-ups and labels: Make information easier to understand and access.
• Feature templates: Simplify the process of creating new features.

You can create your web map using ArcGIS Pro or Map Viewer, then configure its editing settings in Map Viewer.

Once the map is ready, you can select an application based on your team’s editing requirements, technical skills, and preferred level of customisation.

1. Map Viewer: For Editing Within a Broader GIS Environment

Best suited for: GIS users who need editing alongside other mapping and analysis capabilities.

Map Viewer provides a convenient environment for creating, viewing, managing, and editing web maps without switching between multiple applications. Beyond editing, it offers a wide range of capabilities for spatial analysis, cartography, printing, and map configuration.

Users can create new features, modify existing ones, delete features, update attributes, and work with related data.

Its broad functionality makes it particularly useful for organisations where users need to do more than update geographic information. It also works well when a web map is shared between editors and people who only need to view the information.

However, because Map Viewer supports many different GIS activities, it may not be the most focused option for users who only need to perform routine data editing.

2. ArcGIS Web Editor: A Dedicated Workspace for Data Editing

Best suited for: Teams looking for a specialised web application for straightforward and advanced editing tasks.

If your primary requirement is editing geographic data, ArcGIS Web Editor provides a purpose-built environment. Its interface presents relevant tools based on the editing activity being performed, helping users work more efficiently without navigating through unrelated functionality.

With ArcGIS Web Editor, users can:

• Create and add new geographic features.
• Modify, move, reshape, and split existing features.
• Merge features and copy or paste them between layers.
• Edit feature vertices and update attribute information.
• Work with tables and manage feature attributes.
• Create and manage versions in branch-versioned geodatabases.
• Use undo and redo to manage editing changes.

The application supports both occasional editors and GIS professionals who work with more complex data management processes.

One consideration is that ArcGIS Web Editor offers limited interface customisation. Organisations looking to control exactly which tools users can access or combine editing with other application functions may benefit from exploring other options.

3. ArcGIS Instant Apps: Quickly Deploy Focused Editing Applications

Best suited for: Organisations that want to create and deploy editing applications with minimal configuration.

For teams that need a functional editing application without extensive development, ArcGIS Instant Apps offers a practical solution. It provides configurable application templates that allow administrators to create focused experiences around specific workflows. The Web Editor template, in particular, is designed to support customised data editing experiences.

For example, organisations can configure applications to:

• Restrict access to specific editing tools, such as Split and Merge.
• Allow users to create new features without giving them permission to delete existing ones.
• Develop separate editing applications for different user groups working with the same dataset.
• Provide only the tools required for each user’s responsibilities.

This approach allows organisations to simplify the editing experience while maintaining greater control over available functionality.

Although several Instant Apps templates support editing, the Web Editor template is specifically designed for dedicated data editing workflows.

4. ArcGIS Experience Builder: Build Customised Web Editing Experiences Without Extensive Coding

Best suited for: Organisations that need flexible applications combining editing with other GIS capabilities.

ArcGIS Experience Builder provides a more flexible approach to building web applications. Its no-code and low-code environment allows users to create applications using configurable layouts, widgets, and components.

You can begin with an existing template, customise its design, or build an application from scratch. Applications can also be adapted for different screen sizes and devices.

For organisations that need editing alongside other business functions, Experience Builder offers additional flexibility.

For instance, an organisation could develop an application that enables users to update infrastructure information and generate printable maps showing the latest changes.

Applications can combine editing tools with other Esri widgets, third-party components, and internally developed widgets to support specific operational requirements.

Experience Builder is available through ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise, with a Developer Edition providing further opportunities for customisation.

5. ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript: Develop Fully Custom Editing Applications

Best suited for: Developers and organisations with specialised application requirements and development resources.

When existing applications do not fully address your workflow requirements, the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript provides the building blocks for developing a custom web editing solution.

The SDK allows developers to incorporate advanced editing capabilities into applications while taking advantage of the organisation’s existing GIS investment.

Its Editor component supports both geometry and attribute editing, including:

• Creating and editing geographic features.
• Working with group and preset templates.
• Using snapping functionality.
• Selecting features and managing edits.
• Undoing and redoing editing actions.

A major advantage of this approach is the level of control it provides. Developers can design interfaces around specific business processes, enforce organisational editing requirements, and integrate GIS functionality with other enterprise systems.

However, building a custom application requires appropriate development skills, time, and technical resources.

How Do You Choose the Right Web Editing Application?

The best application depends on what you want users to accomplish, their level of GIS experience, and the complexity of your editing workflows.

Consider the following when making your selection:

Application	Key strength
Map Viewer	Editing alongside mapping and analysis
ArcGIS Web Editor	Dedicated data editing capabilities
ArcGIS Instant Apps	Quick deployment of focused editing applications
ArcGIS Experience Builder	Flexible, configurable application experiences
ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript	Fully customised editing applications

Rather than focusing on which application has the most features, consider which one provides the most appropriate experience for your users.

Web-based editing is helping organisations extend GIS capabilities beyond traditional desktop environments. By making data editing more accessible, teams can collaborate more effectively, maintain accurate geographic information, and involve more people in their GIS workflows.

The five ArcGIS options discussed in this guide offer different approaches to achieving these objectives. Some prioritise simplicity and quick deployment, while others provide greater flexibility and advanced customisation.

Whichever application you choose, remember that a well-configured web map is the foundation of an effective editing experience.

Start with your organisation’s needs, understand the capabilities of each application, and choose the solution that best supports your team’s workflows.