ArcGIS Server REST API Integration with C#

ArcGIS REST API Overview

ArcGIS Server exposes all its capabilities via a JSON REST API. No proprietary SDK required — just HttpClient and JSON deserialization.

Query a Feature Layer

var url = "https://gis.example.com/arcgis/rest/services/Roads/FeatureServer/0/query";
var response = await http.GetFromJsonAsync<FeatureQueryResult>(
    $"{url}?where=1=1&outFields=*&f=json");

Export a Map Image

var exportUrl = $"{mapServiceUrl}/export" +
    "?bbox=72.8,18.9,73.0,19.1&size=800,600&f=image&format=png";
var imageBytes = await http.GetByteArrayAsync(exportUrl);

Geoprocessing Tasks

// Submit async GP task
var jobUrl = await SubmitGpJobAsync(gpServiceUrl, parameters);
// Poll for completion
var result = await PollGpJobAsync(jobUrl);

Conclusion

The ArcGIS REST API is well-documented and works with any HTTP client. No ESRI SDK license required for basic operations.