Display a map

Learn how to create and display a map with a basemap layer.

Overview of how to display a map

A map contains layers of geographic data. A map contains a basemap layer and, optionally, one or more data layers. You can display a specific area of a map by using a map view and setting the location and zoom level.

In this tutorial, you create and display a map of the Santa Monica Mountains in California using the topographic basemap layer.

The map and code will be used as the starting point for other 2D tutorials.

Prerequisites

Before starting this tutorial:

You need an ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.
Your system meets the system requirements.

Steps

Create a new Xcode project

Use Xcode to create an iOS app and configure it to reference the API.

Open Xcode. In the menu bar, click File > New > Project > iOS > App > Next.
- In the Choose options window, set the following properties:
  - Product Name: <your app name>
  - Language: Swift
  - Interface: SwiftUI
  - Organization Identifier: <your organization>
- Uncheck all other options.
- Click Next.
- Choose a location to store your project. Click Create.
In the Project Navigator, click <your app name>App. In the Editor, right click on the struct name, <your app name>App. Select Refactor then Rename... to rename the struct to MainApp. Click the Rename button in the top right to confirm the new name. This will rename the struct and file in all affected areas. This file and struct will be named MainApp for all tutorials here on out.
Add a reference to the API using Swift Package Manager.

Get an access token

You need an access token to use the location services used in this tutorial.

Go to the Create an API key tutorial to obtain an access token using your ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.
Ensure that the following privilege is enabled: Location services > Basemaps > Basemap styles service.
Copy the access token as it will be used in the next step.

To learn more about other ways to get an access token, go to Types of authentication.

Set your API key

In the Project Navigator, click MainApp.swift.
In the Editor, add an import statement to reference the API.
MainApp.swift
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import SwiftUI

import ArcGIS
```

Implement an initializer in the MainApp struct. Set the ArcGISEnvironment.apiKey property with your access token.

MainApp.swift
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Add line.Add line.Add line.import SwiftUI

import ArcGIS

@main
struct MainApp: App {

    init() {
        ArcGISEnvironment.apiKey = APIKey("<#YOUR-ACCESS-TOKEN#>")
    }

    var body: some SwiftUI.Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()

                .ignoresSafeArea()

        }
    }

}

Add a map

Create a map that contains a topographic basemap layer. The map will be centered on the Santa Monica Mountains in California.

In the Project Navigator, click ContentView.swift.
In the Editor, add an import statement to reference the API.
ContentView.swift
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import SwiftUI

import ArcGIS
```
Add a @State property wrapper named map of type Map with a default value. Create a Map with an arcGISTopographic basemap style and return it.
ContentView.swift
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```
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struct ContentView: View {

    @State private var map = {
        let map = Map(basemapStyle: .arcGISTopographic)

        return map
    }()

}
```
A GeoModel like a Map or Scene can be expensive to create and holds state. To ensure that a geo model and other model objects are only created as needed, you can apply the @State or @StateObject property wrapper to them, as in the above code. See Managing model data in your app for more information.

Set the map's initialViewpoint property with a Viewpoint using the Santa Monica Mountains coordinates.

ContentView.swift
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Add line.struct ContentView: View {

    @State private var map = {
        let map = Map(basemapStyle: .arcGISTopographic)

        map.initialViewpoint = Viewpoint(latitude: 34.02700, longitude: -118.80500, scale: 72_000)

        return map
    }()

}

Add a map view

A map view is a UI component that displays a map. It also handles user interactions with the map, including navigating with touch gestures. Use Xcode and SwiftUI to add a map view.

In the body, create a MapView with the map created in the previous step.

ContentView.swift
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Add line.Add line.struct ContentView: View {

    @State private var map = {
        let map = Map(basemapStyle: .arcGISTopographic)

        map.initialViewpoint = Viewpoint(latitude: 34.02700, longitude: -118.80500, scale: 72_000)

        return map
    }()

    var body: some View {

        // Displays the map.
        MapView(map: map)

    }

}

MapView conforms to the Apple View protocol.

In the Project Navigator, click MainApp.swift.

In the body, add an .ignoresSafeArea() modifier to the ContentView. The ContentView's body contains the MapView and this modifier ensures that the map view is displayed beyond the safe area to all edges.

MainApp.swift
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Add line.    var body: some SwiftUI.Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()

                .ignoresSafeArea()

        }
    }

Press Command + R to run the app.

If you are using the Xcode simulator your system must meet these minimum requirements: macOS 14 (Sonoma), Xcode 16, iOS 18. If you are using a physical device, then refer to the system requirements.

You should see a map with the topographic basemap layer centered on the Santa Monica Mountains in California. Pinch, drag, and double-tap the map view to explore the map.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional API features, ArcGIS location services, and ArcGIS tools in these tutorials: