{"id":2967856,"date":"2026-07-06T20:52:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T03:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2967856"},"modified":"2026-07-17T12:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T19:02:27","slug":"discover-how-your-layers-scenes-maps-and-apps-connect","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/announcements\/discover-how-your-layers-scenes-maps-and-apps-connect","title":{"rendered":"Discover How Your Layers, Scenes, Maps, and Apps Connect"},"author":340892,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[37101,23851,37511],"tags":[781186,781152,781006],"industry":[],"product":[36551],"class_list":["post-2967856","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-announcements","category-data-management","category-sharing-collaboration","tag-item-dependencies","tag-related-items","tag-whats-new-june-2026","product-arcgis-online"],"acf":{"authors":[{"ID":340892,"user_firstname":"Laura","user_lastname":"Busolo","nickname":"Laura Busolo","user_nicename":"lbusolo","display_name":"Laura Busolo","user_email":"LBusolo@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2023-06-17 00:33:04","user_description":"Laura is a native Kenyan, based in California who loves exploring culture and most-things art. With years of experience in the world of geospatial technology, she currently works as a product engineer at Esri, collaborating across teams to help users manage their content in ArcGIS Online.","user_avatar":""},{"ID":346482,"user_firstname":"Aditya","user_lastname":"Allamraju","nickname":"Aditya Allamraju","user_nicename":"aallamraju","display_name":"Aditya Allamraju","user_email":"aallamraju@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/a71f005ba31441a3b5e5c12c862f4cb8","user_registered":"2023-09-26 20:51:00","user_description":"Ms. Aditya Allamraju is a Product Engineer II currently working for the ArcGIS Online Team and has about 3 years experience working for the ArcGIS StoryMaps Briefings App team at Esri in Redlands, CA. She is a proactive GIS enthusiast and is passionate about learning technology that encourages productive collaboration and knowledge sharing.","user_avatar":""}],"short_description":"Your layers, scenes, maps, and apps have a story. Now you can follow it. ","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Layers, scenes, maps, and apps are often used in ways that involve dependencies on one another. These complex connections have not always been visible. The latest update to the item page now provides a clearer view of these connections, allowing for the quick identification of underlying and supporting items. For example, a single layer might feed multiple web maps, web scenes, or other applications. Likewise, a web application could rely on several services, each with its own unique data sources. Without visibility into these relationships, it can be difficult to understand how a change to one item might affect other content across your organization.<\/p>\n

This new feature introduces an Items used<\/strong> section and a Used by<\/strong> section on item pages for web maps, web scenes, certain app items, and feature layers, making it easier to track dependencies and see how items are linked. Whether you are updating data, transferring ownership, or deprecating and deleting outdated content, having this insight helps you anticipate impact, reduce downtime, and maintain the integrity of your items.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":"

Note:<\/strong> For feature layers, you\u2019ll only have a Used by<\/strong> section in the item\u2019s Usage tab, no Items used<\/strong> section in the Overview tab. Other supported items include both sections. Go to this documentation<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n","image_reference":false,"layout":"standard","image_reference_figure":"","snippet":"","spotlight_name":"","section_title":"","position":"Center","spotlight_image":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2974014,"id":2974014,"title":"Illustration - Discover item dependencies","filename":"Discover-item-dependencies.png","filesize":809800,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/announcements\/discover-how-your-layers-scenes-maps-and-apps-connect\/discover-item-dependencies","alt":"","author":"340892","description":"","caption":"","name":"discover-item-dependencies","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967856,"date":"2026-06-29 21:05:52","modified":"2026-06-29 21:06:14","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1023,"height":783,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies.png","medium-width":341,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":588,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies.png","large-width":1023,"large-height":783,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies.png","1536x1536-width":1023,"1536x1536-height":783,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies.png","2048x2048-width":1023,"2048x2048-height":783,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies-608x465.png","card_image-width":608,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Discover-item-dependencies.png","wide_image-width":1023,"wide_image-height":783}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Why item connections matter<\/h2>\n

When working with items in ArcGIS Online, data and items are curated and authored with an intended audience in mind. It is important to think about who needs access, what content they will see, and how the content is built. In ArcGIS Online, items and members form the backbone of how information is organized and shared. Sharing plays a central role in the model, with different levels of sharing, like groups, organizations and public. One item can be used to create another, which may then be referenced in multiple places. These chains<\/em> of connected content mean that any change to one item can ripple through others.<\/p>\n

For instance, say you have a public dashboard that has a web map and layers, then at one point, the web map and layers are suddenly made private. Removing the web map or layer that powers a dashboard could break the dashboard for its users.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2972455,"id":2972455,"title":"Sharing issues on the item page","filename":"Sharing-issues-NEW.png","filesize":111430,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/announcements\/discover-how-your-layers-scenes-maps-and-apps-connect\/sharing-issues-new","alt":"","author":"340892","description":"","caption":"'Items used' lists related items and highlights those with sharing issues.","name":"sharing-issues-new","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967856,"date":"2026-06-24 01:26:36","modified":"2026-06-24 01:27:10","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1181,"height":766,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW.png","medium-width":402,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":498,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW.png","large-width":1181,"large-height":766,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW.png","1536x1536-width":1181,"1536x1536-height":766,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW.png","2048x2048-width":1181,"2048x2048-height":766,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW-717x465.png","card_image-width":717,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Sharing-issues-NEW.png","wide_image-width":1181,"wide_image-height":766}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Knowing where your items are being used, what they depend on, and what depends on them is essential. This awareness helps you anticipate the impact of actions such as sharing, transferring item ownership, or deleting items. By understanding the connections, you can make informed decisions, avoid disruptions, and maintain the integrity of your content and workflows.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Discovering item connections<\/h2>\n

With the June 2026 update, ArcGIS Online introduced powerful tools to visualize and manage connections between your content. For supported items, the item page includes Items used<\/strong> and Used by<\/strong> sections that display related content and connections. In the next sections, we\u2019ll explore the supported item types and where to find details about what an item uses and where other content use it.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":"

Note:<\/strong> Only items that you have permission to access are displayed in the Item used<\/strong> and Used by<\/strong> list.<\/p>\n","image_reference":false,"layout":"standard","image_reference_figure":"","snippet":"","spotlight_name":"","section_title":"","position":"Center","spotlight_image":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Feature layers<\/h3>\n

Feature layers can be used to create web maps, applications, and other item types. Item connections for the selected feature layer can be viewed on the item\u2019s page. In the Usage <\/strong>tab, we now have a Used by<\/strong> section to view items that directly reference the respective feature layer. The Used by<\/strong> section displays a summary of connected items along with details such as item title, type, last modified date, owner, and view count. This information helps you understand where a feature layer is being used across your organization, allowing you to assess the impact of potential changes.<\/p>\n

Each item listed in the Used by<\/strong> section is clickable. Selecting an item opens the corresponding item page, allowing you to further explore its properties, usage, sharing settings, and dependencies.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2971400,"id":2971400,"title":"Layer - used by","filename":"Layer-used-by.png","filesize":78398,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/announcements\/discover-how-your-layers-scenes-maps-and-apps-connect\/layer-used-by","alt":"","author":"340892","description":"","caption":"Usage details showing a list of items using a feature layer.","name":"layer-used-by","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967856,"date":"2026-06-19 00:27:42","modified":"2026-06-19 00:28:36","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1389,"height":916,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by.png","medium-width":396,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":506,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by.png","large-width":1389,"large-height":916,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by.png","1536x1536-width":1389,"1536x1536-height":916,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by.png","2048x2048-width":1389,"2048x2048-height":916,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by-705x465.png","card_image-width":705,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Layer-used-by.png","wide_image-width":1389,"wide_image-height":916}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Web maps and scenes<\/h3>\n

Web maps and scenes can reference various items, such as feature layers, tile layers, imagery layers, OGC layers, basemaps, and more. Item connection information reveals the data sources a map or scene depends on. This insight enables you to manage content effectively, troubleshoot issues quickly, and evaluate how changes to underlying layers may impact the map or scene.<\/p>\n

Item connections for the selected web map or scene can be viewed by navigating to the item page. From the Overview tab, navigate to Map\/Scene > Items used <\/strong>to view all items that directly reference the selected web map or scene. The Items used<\/strong> list summarizes the items used and displays key details such as item title, type, owner, last modified date, status, and sharing level.<\/p>\n

Each item on the list is clickable. Selecting an item opens its\u00a0item page, where you can examine its properties, usage, sharing settings, and dependencies in greater depth.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2971401,"id":2971401,"title":"Web and scene - Items used","filename":"Web-and-scene-Items-used.png","filesize":434830,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/announcements\/discover-how-your-layers-scenes-maps-and-apps-connect\/web-and-scene-items-used","alt":"","author":"340892","description":"","caption":"A list of items used for a web map and scene.","name":"web-and-scene-items-used","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2967856,"date":"2026-06-19 00:30:18","modified":"2026-06-19 00:31:34","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2097,"height":796,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":176,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":292,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":729,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used-1536x583.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":583,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used-2048x777.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":777,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used-826x314.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":314,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Web-and-scene-Items-used-1920x729.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":729}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Apps<\/h3>\n

ArcGIS apps integrate multiple items such as maps, scenes, images, documents, and other applications, to deliver complete user experiences.<\/p>\n

In this update, item connections are available for the following ArcGIS app types:<\/p>\n