# Arcgis Widgets UI

> Build map user interfaces with ArcGIS widgets, Map Components, and Calcite Design System. Use for adding legends, layer lists, search, tables, time sliders, and custom UI layouts.

- Skill: `saschabrunnerch/arcgis-widgets-ui` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add saschabrunnerch/arcgis-widgets-ui`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/saschabrunnerch/arcgis-widgets-ui/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Design & Media
- Author: saschabrunnerch (https://skillmd.com/u/saschabrunnerch)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/saschabrunnerch/arcgis-widgets-ui

---


# ArcGIS Widgets & UI

Use this skill when building user interfaces with widgets, Map Components, and Calcite.

> **Best Practice:** Prefer Map Components (web components like `arcgis-legend`, `arcgis-search`) over Core API widgets. Esri has transitioned to web components as the primary approach.

## Import Patterns

### Map Components (ESM)

```javascript
import "@arcgis/map-components/dist/components/arcgis-map";
import "@arcgis/map-components/dist/components/arcgis-legend";
import "@arcgis/map-components/dist/components/arcgis-search";
import "@arcgis/map-components/dist/components/arcgis-layer-list";
import "@arcgis/map-components/dist/components/arcgis-expand";
```

### Core API Widgets (ESM)

```javascript
import Legend from "@arcgis/core/widgets/Legend.js";
import LayerList from "@arcgis/core/widgets/LayerList.js";
import Search from "@arcgis/core/widgets/Search.js";
import BasemapGallery from "@arcgis/core/widgets/BasemapGallery.js";
```

### Dynamic Imports (CDN)

```javascript
const Legend = await $arcgis.import("@arcgis/core/widgets/Legend.js");
const Search = await $arcgis.import("@arcgis/core/widgets/Search.js");
```

> **Note:** CSS for Map Components loads automatically via npm. Core API widgets require: `@import "@arcgis/core/assets/esri/themes/light/main.css";`

## Map Components Overview

| Component                           | Purpose                            |
| ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| `arcgis-map`                        | 2D map container                   |
| `arcgis-scene`                      | 3D scene container                 |
| `arcgis-zoom`                       | Zoom in/out buttons                |
| `arcgis-compass`                    | Orientation indicator              |
| `arcgis-home`                       | Return to initial extent           |
| `arcgis-locate`                     | Find user location                 |
| `arcgis-track`                      | Track user location                |
| `arcgis-navigation-toggle`          | Pan/rotate mode (3D)               |
| `arcgis-floor-filter`               | Filter indoor map by floor level   |
| `arcgis-fullscreen`                 | Toggle fullscreen                  |
| `arcgis-scale-bar`                  | Display map scale                  |
| `arcgis-legend`                     | Layer symbology legend             |
| `arcgis-layer-list`                 | Layer visibility control           |
| `arcgis-basemap-gallery`            | Switch basemaps                    |
| `arcgis-basemap-layer-list`         | Layer list for basemap layers      |
| `arcgis-basemap-toggle`             | Toggle two basemaps                |
| `arcgis-catalog-layer-list`         | Browse CatalogLayer sublayers      |
| `arcgis-search`                     | Location search                    |
| `arcgis-placement`                  | Control widget placement           |
| `arcgis-popup`                      | Feature popups                     |
| `arcgis-editor`                     | Feature editing                    |
| `arcgis-feature`                    | Display feature info without popup |
| `arcgis-feature-form`               | Form-based attribute editing       |
| `arcgis-features`                   | Display multiple features info     |
| `arcgis-sketch`                     | Draw geometries                    |
| `arcgis-feature-table`              | Tabular data view                  |
| `arcgis-time-slider`                | Temporal navigation                |
| `arcgis-expand`                     | Collapsible container              |
| `arcgis-print`                      | Map printing                       |
| `arcgis-table-list`                 | List and manage feature tables     |
| `arcgis-bookmarks`                  | Navigate to bookmarks              |
| `arcgis-directions`                 | Turn-by-turn routing               |
| `arcgis-swipe`                      | Compare layers                     |
| `arcgis-coordinate-conversion`      | Coordinate formats                 |
| `arcgis-daylight`                   | 3D lighting control                |
| `arcgis-weather`                    | 3D weather effects                 |
| `arcgis-distance-measurement-2d`    | 2D distance measurement            |
| `arcgis-area-measurement-2d`        | 2D area measurement                |
| `arcgis-direct-line-measurement-3d` | 3D line measurement                |
| `arcgis-area-measurement-3d`        | 3D area measurement                |
| `arcgis-elevation-profile`          | Elevation profile along a path     |
| `arcgis-line-of-sight`              | Line of sight analysis (3D)        |
| `arcgis-slice`                      | Slice through 3D data              |
| `arcgis-shadow-cast`                | Shadow cast analysis (3D)          |
| `arcgis-oriented-imagery-viewer`    | View oriented imagery              |
| `arcgis-video-player`               | Play video feeds                   |
| `arcgis-link-chart`                 | Link chart visualization           |
| `arcgis-utility-network-trace`      | Utility network tracing            |
| `arcgis-version-management`         | Manage geodatabase versions        |

## Slot-Based Positioning

```html
<arcgis-map basemap="streets-vector">
  <!-- Position widgets using slots -->
  <arcgis-zoom slot="top-left"></arcgis-zoom>
  <arcgis-home slot="top-left"></arcgis-home>
  <arcgis-compass slot="top-left"></arcgis-compass>

  <arcgis-search slot="top-right"></arcgis-search>
  <arcgis-layer-list slot="top-right"></arcgis-layer-list>

  <arcgis-legend slot="bottom-left"></arcgis-legend>
  <arcgis-scale-bar slot="bottom-right"></arcgis-scale-bar>

  <!-- Popup must use popup slot -->
  <arcgis-popup slot="popup"></arcgis-popup>
</arcgis-map>
```

Available slots: `top-left`, `top-right`, `bottom-left`, `bottom-right`, `top-start`, `top-end`, `bottom-start`, `bottom-end`, `popup`

Widgets in the same slot stack vertically in DOM order.

## Expand Component

Wrap widgets in `arcgis-expand` for collapsible behavior:

```html
<arcgis-map basemap="streets-vector">
  <arcgis-expand slot="top-right" expand-tooltip="Show Legend" mode="floating">
    <arcgis-legend></arcgis-legend>
  </arcgis-expand>

  <arcgis-expand slot="top-left" expanded>
    <arcgis-layer-list></arcgis-layer-list>
  </arcgis-expand>
</arcgis-map>
```

## Reference Element (External Components)

Place components outside the map and reference them:

```html
<calcite-shell>
  <calcite-shell-panel slot="panel-start">
    <arcgis-legend reference-element="arcgis-map"></arcgis-legend>
  </calcite-shell-panel>

  <arcgis-map id="arcgis-map" basemap="topo-vector">
    <arcgis-zoom slot="top-left"></arcgis-zoom>
  </arcgis-map>
</calcite-shell>
```

## Common Widgets

### Legend

```html
<!-- Map Component -->
<arcgis-legend slot="bottom-left"></arcgis-legend>
```

```javascript
// Core API
import Legend from "@arcgis/core/widgets/Legend.js";

const legend = new Legend({
  view: view,
  layerInfos: [
    {
      layer: featureLayer,
      title: "Custom Title",
    },
  ],
});

view.ui.add(legend, "bottom-left");
```

### LayerList

```html
<!-- Map Component -->
<arcgis-layer-list slot="top-right"></arcgis-layer-list>
```

```javascript
// Core API with actions
import LayerList from "@arcgis/core/widgets/LayerList.js";

const layerList = new LayerList({
  view: view,
  listItemCreatedFunction: (event) => {
    const item = event.item;
    item.actionsSections = [
      [
        {
          title: "Zoom to layer",
          icon: "zoom-to-object",
          id: "zoom-to",
        },
      ],
    ];
  },
});

layerList.on("trigger-action", (event) => {
  if (event.action.id === "zoom-to") {
    view.goTo(event.item.layer.fullExtent);
  }
});

view.ui.add(layerList, "top-right");
```

### BasemapGallery

```html
<!-- Map Component -->
<arcgis-basemap-gallery slot="top-right"></arcgis-basemap-gallery>
```

```javascript
// Core API
import BasemapGallery from "@arcgis/core/widgets/BasemapGallery.js";

const basemapGallery = new BasemapGallery({ view: view });
view.ui.add(basemapGallery, "top-right");
```

### Search

```html
<!-- Map Component -->
<arcgis-search slot="top-right"></arcgis-search>
```

```javascript
// Core API with custom sources
import Search from "@arcgis/core/widgets/Search.js";

const search = new Search({
  view: view,
  sources: [
    {
      layer: featureLayer,
      searchFields: ["name", "address"],
      displayField: "name",
      exactMatch: false,
      outFields: ["*"],
      name: "My Layer",
      placeholder: "Search features",
    },
  ],
});

view.ui.add(search, "top-right");

// Events
search.on("select-result", (event) => {
  console.log("Selected:", event.result);
});
```

### FeatureTable

```html
<!-- Map Component -->
<arcgis-feature-table reference-element="arcgis-map"></arcgis-feature-table>
```

```javascript
// Core API
import FeatureTable from "@arcgis/core/widgets/FeatureTable.js";

const featureTable = new FeatureTable({
  view: view,
  layer: featureLayer,
  container: "tableDiv",
  visibleElements: {
    header: true,
    columnMenus: true,
    selectionColumn: true,
  },
  tableTemplate: {
    columnTemplates: [
      { fieldName: "name", label: "Name" },
      { fieldName: "population", label: "Population" },
    ],
  },
});

// Watch selection via highlightIds
featureTable.highlightIds.on("change", (event) => {
  console.log("Selected IDs:", featureTable.highlightIds.toArray());
});
```

### TimeSlider

```html
<!-- Map Component -->
<arcgis-time-slider
  slot="bottom-right"
  layout="auto"
  mode="time-window"
  time-visible
  loop
>
</arcgis-time-slider>

<script type="module">
  const timeSlider = document.querySelector("arcgis-time-slider");
  const mapEl = document.querySelector("arcgis-map");
  await mapEl.viewOnReady();

  await layer.load();
  timeSlider.fullTimeExtent = layer.timeInfo.fullTimeExtent;
  timeSlider.stops = { interval: layer.timeInfo.interval };
</script>
```

```javascript
// Core API
import TimeSlider from "@arcgis/core/widgets/TimeSlider.js";

const timeSlider = new TimeSlider({
  view: view,
  mode: "time-window", // instant, time-window, cumulative-from-start, cumulative-from-end
  fullTimeExtent: layer.timeInfo.fullTimeExtent,
  stops: {
    interval: { value: 1, unit: "hours" },
  },
  playRate: 1000,
  loop: true,
});

view.ui.add(timeSlider, "bottom-right");

// Events
import * as reactiveUtils from "@arcgis/core/core/reactiveUtils.js";

reactiveUtils.watch(
  () => timeSlider.timeExtent,
  (timeExtent) => {
    console.log("Time changed:", timeExtent.start, timeExtent.end);
  },
);
```

## Core Widget Approach

### Adding Widgets to View

```javascript
import Legend from "@arcgis/core/widgets/Legend.js";

const legend = new Legend({ view: view });

// Add to view UI
view.ui.add(legend, "bottom-left");

// Add multiple widgets
view.ui.add([
  { component: legend, position: "bottom-left" },
  { component: search, position: "top-right" },
]);

// Add at specific index (order in position)
view.ui.add(legend, { position: "bottom-left", index: 0 });

// Remove widget
view.ui.remove(legend);
```

### Widget in Custom Container

```html
<div id="legendDiv"></div>

<script type="module">
  import Legend from "@arcgis/core/widgets/Legend.js";

  const legend = new Legend({
    view: view,
    container: "legendDiv",
  });
</script>
```

## Calcite Design System Integration

### Basic Layout with Calcite

```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <link
      rel="stylesheet"
      href="https://js.arcgis.com/5.0/@arcgis/core/assets/esri/themes/light/main.css"
    />
    <script src="https://js.arcgis.com/5.0/"></script>
    <script
      type="module"
      src="https://js.arcgis.com/map-components/5.0/arcgis-map-components.esm.js"
    ></script>
    <style>
      html,
      body {
        height: 100%;
        margin: 0;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body class="calcite-mode-light">
    <calcite-shell>
      <!-- Header -->
      <calcite-navigation slot="header">
        <calcite-navigation-logo
          slot="logo"
          heading="My Map App"
        ></calcite-navigation-logo>
      </calcite-navigation>

      <!-- Side Panel -->
      <calcite-shell-panel slot="panel-start">
        <calcite-panel heading="Layers">
          <arcgis-layer-list reference-element="map"></arcgis-layer-list>
        </calcite-panel>
      </calcite-shell-panel>

      <!-- Map -->
      <arcgis-map id="map" basemap="streets-vector">
        <arcgis-zoom slot="top-left"></arcgis-zoom>
      </arcgis-map>

      <!-- End Panel -->
      <calcite-shell-panel slot="panel-end">
        <calcite-panel heading="Legend">
          <arcgis-legend reference-element="map"></arcgis-legend>
        </calcite-panel>
      </calcite-shell-panel>
    </calcite-shell>
  </body>
</html>
```

### Calcite Action Bar

```html
<calcite-shell>
  <calcite-shell-panel slot="panel-start">
    <calcite-action-bar slot="action-bar">
      <calcite-action
        icon="layers"
        text="Layers"
        data-panel="layers"
      ></calcite-action>
      <calcite-action
        icon="legend"
        text="Legend"
        data-panel="legend"
      ></calcite-action>
      <calcite-action
        icon="bookmark"
        text="Bookmarks"
        data-panel="bookmarks"
      ></calcite-action>
    </calcite-action-bar>

    <calcite-panel id="layers" heading="Layers">
      <arcgis-layer-list reference-element="map"></arcgis-layer-list>
    </calcite-panel>

    <calcite-panel id="legend" heading="Legend" hidden>
      <arcgis-legend reference-element="map"></arcgis-legend>
    </calcite-panel>
  </calcite-shell-panel>

  <arcgis-map id="map" basemap="topo-vector"></arcgis-map>
</calcite-shell>

<script>
  document.querySelectorAll("calcite-action").forEach((action) => {
    action.addEventListener("click", () => {
      const panelId = action.dataset.panel;
      document.querySelectorAll("calcite-panel").forEach((panel) => {
        panel.hidden = panel.id !== panelId;
      });
    });
  });
</script>
```

### Common Calcite Components

| Component             | Purpose              |
| --------------------- | -------------------- |
| `calcite-shell`       | App layout container |
| `calcite-shell-panel` | Side panels          |
| `calcite-panel`       | Content panel        |
| `calcite-navigation`  | Header/footer        |
| `calcite-action-bar`  | Icon button bar      |
| `calcite-action`      | Icon button          |
| `calcite-button`      | Standard button      |
| `calcite-input`       | Text input           |
| `calcite-list`        | List container       |
| `calcite-list-item`   | List item            |
| `calcite-card`        | Card container       |
| `calcite-modal`       | Modal dialog         |
| `calcite-alert`       | Alert message        |
| `calcite-loader`      | Loading indicator    |

### Theming

```html
<!-- Light mode -->
<body class="calcite-mode-light">
  <!-- Dark mode -->
  <body class="calcite-mode-dark">
    <!-- Custom theme colors -->
    <style>
      :root {
        --calcite-color-brand: #007ac2;
        --calcite-color-brand-hover: #005a8e;
        --calcite-color-text-1: #323232;
      }
    </style>
  </body>
</body>
```

## Widget Events

```javascript
// Search select
search.on("select-result", (event) => {
  console.log(event.result);
});

// LayerList trigger action
layerList.on("trigger-action", (event) => {
  console.log(event.action, event.item);
});

// FeatureTable selection
featureTable.highlightIds.on("change", (event) => {
  console.log(event.added, event.removed);
});
```

## Reference Samples

- `legend` - Legend widget for layer symbology
- `widgets-layerlist` - LayerList widget for layer management
- `widgets-search-multiplesource` - Search widget with multiple sources
- `widgets-featuretable` - FeatureTable widget integration
- `basemap-gallery` - BasemapGallery for switching basemaps
- `widgets-timeslider` - TimeSlider widget for temporal data

## Common Pitfalls

1. **Missing reference-element**: Components placed outside the `<arcgis-map>` tag cannot find the view without an explicit reference.

   ```html
   <!-- Anti-pattern: component outside arcgis-map with no reference -->
   <arcgis-map id="myMap" basemap="topo-vector"></arcgis-map>
   <arcgis-search></arcgis-search>
   <!-- Cannot find the view -->
   ```

   ```html
   <!-- Correct: use reference-element to link to the map -->
   <arcgis-map id="myMap" basemap="topo-vector"></arcgis-map>
   <arcgis-search reference-element="myMap"></arcgis-search>
   ```

   **Impact:** The component cannot discover the associated view. It either does not render or throws an error.

2. **Slot names are specific**: Use exact slot names (`top-left`, not `topleft`).

3. **Calcite CSS not loading**: Ensure Calcite script is loaded before using Calcite components.

4. **Widget container conflicts**: Do not add the same widget to both a DOM container and `view.ui`.

   ```javascript
   // Anti-pattern: widget in both container and view.ui
   const legend = new Legend({ view: view, container: "legendDiv" });
   view.ui.add(legend, "bottom-right"); // Conflicts
   ```

   ```javascript
   // Correct: pick one placement strategy
   const legend = new Legend({ view: view });
   view.ui.add(legend, "bottom-right");
   ```

   **Impact:** The widget renders twice or the layout breaks.

5. **Dark/light mode mismatch**: Add `calcite-mode-light` or `calcite-mode-dark` class to body.

6. **Core API widgets missing CSS**: When using Core API widgets (not Map Components), you must import `@arcgis/core/assets/esri/themes/light/main.css`. Map Components handle CSS automatically.

## Related Skills

- See `arcgis-widgets-advanced` for specialized widgets (BuildingExplorer, FloorFilter, Track, Locate, etc.)
- See `arcgis-map-tools` for measurement, print, directions, and swipe tools
- See `arcgis-editing` for Editor and Sketch widgets
- See `arcgis-tables-forms` for FeatureTable and FeatureForm details