BUG-000164286 for ArcGIS Online

Bug ID Number	BUG-000164286
Submitted	January 11, 2024
Last Modified	May 27, 2025
Applies to	ArcGIS Online
Version found	Oct 2023
Operating System	N/A
Operating System Version	N/A
Status	As Designed

Additional Information

This is a known behavior regarding the execution order of filters in feature services. When both viewDefinitionQuery and topFilter are applied to a feature service, the system processes the topFilter first, followed by the viewDefinitionQuery. To achieve simultaneous execution of both filtering operations, the correct approach is to structure the query using sqlExpression within the viewLayerDefinition instead of using viewDefinitionQuery directly. The recommended structure is: json{ "viewDefinitionQuery": "", "viewLayerDefinition": { "filter": { "sqlExpression": "status = 'Active'" }, "topFilter": { "orderByFields": "CreationDate DESC", "groupByFields": "Name", "topCount": 1 } } } This structure ensures that both the SQL expression filter and the top filter are processed together, providing more precise control over the returned data and preventing unexpected results that may occur when filters are applied in sequence.

Workaround

For query purposes, it is recommended to not add the topFilter parameter on the view definition. Use the queryTopFeatures method to get the correct result.