Leaflet – how do you get individual markers from a featurelayer?

Leaflet: Getting Your Hands on Individual Markers from a FeatureLayer

Leaflet, that trusty open-source JavaScript library we all love for whipping up interactive maps, gives you a bunch of ways to display geographical data. FeatureLayers? Those are your go-to when you’re dealing with serious amounts of data. But here’s the thing: sometimes you need to get down to the nitty-gritty and grab individual markers from within that FeatureLayer. Sounds simple, right? Well, it can be a bit of a puzzle. So, let’s crack it! This article? It’s your complete guide to doing just that.

FeatureLayers: The Big Picture

Think of a FeatureLayer as a smart way to display data. Instead of loading everything at once, it grabs features from a service (usually ArcGIS Online or something similar) only when they’re visible on the map. This is a lifesaver when you’ve got thousands of points – trust me, your map (and your users) will thank you for it. It’s like having a super-efficient waiter who only brings you the dishes you can actually see on the table.

Okay, Let’s Get Those Markers!

FeatureLayers are great for performance, but getting your hands directly on individual markers? That’s where things get interesting. Don’t worry, though; we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves.

1. eachLayer: Your Swiss Army Knife

The eachLayer method is your bread and butter here. It’s like saying, “Hey FeatureLayer, go through each of your layers, one by one, and do this thing.” The “thing” is usually a function that you provide.

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