Widgets in ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript

Description

With the release of version 5.0 on Feb 24, 2026, Esri deprecated all widgets in JavaScript Maps SDK. Complete removal of widgets is planned as early as Q1 2027. Developers should migrate to JavaScript Maps SDK web components, which replace legacy widgets and support Esri’s move to a standards-based, browser-supported technology stack

When the JavaScript Maps SDK was introduced in 2016, web component standards were still evolving and lacked broad browser support. At the time, Esri avoided committing to a specific JavaScript framework due to the rapidly changing web development landscape. To address these challenges and meet developer needs, Esri created a custom widget architecture and delivered more than 60 widgets for web applications. 

Today, web component standards are fully supported across major browsers, enabling Esri to modernize its technology. Widget functionality is now available as web components, and legacy widgets are being phased out.

Deprecation Details

• Deprecations will be clearly indicated in:
• API references
• Sample code
• Console messages

Key Milestones

• The deprecation began with version 4.32 of JavaScript Maps SDK which was released in February 2025 and has continued incrementally with each release.
• All widgets will be deprecated by Q1 2026.
• Widgets will be completely removed from the JavaScript Maps SDK as early as Q1 2027.

Recommendation

Customers must rewrite code to replace legacy widgets with web components from the @arcgis/map-components package. This measure ensures ongoing compatibility with future JavaScript Maps SDK releases and maintains proper functionality.

Customers with existing applications will have to update or rewrite portions of their code to replace widgets with web components. The level of effort required may range from minor adjustments to extensive changes depending on the complexity of the application. However, transitioning to web components will provide several benefits to customers, including easier integration with modern frameworks, encapsulated workflows that save time and reduce costs, a more familiar and streamlined approach for building new applications, and access to new features with improved performance.

Custom widgets in ArcGIS Experience Builder: With widgets in JavaScript Maps SDK being deprecated and eventually removed, developers should build or migrate ArcGIS Experience Builder custom widgets using JavaScript Maps SDK web components to ensure future compatibility.

ArcGIS Experience Builder custom widgets built with widgets in JavaScript Maps SDK will stop working when customers have:

• Upgraded to an ArcGIS Experience Builder version that will be released in Q1 2027 or later, which uses JavaScript Maps SDK with web components.
• Added custom widgets to ArcGIS Enterprise, scheduled for release in the first half of 2027 or later, in which ArcGIS Experience Builder references a JavaScript Maps SDK version with web components.

For more information, see the About Release Versions webpage.

Developers should migrate these custom widgets to JavaScript Maps SDK web components by Q1 2027 to ensure continued functionality. They should:

• Immediately start building new custom widgets using JavaScript Maps SDK web components.
• Refactor existing custom widgets built using widgets in JavaScript Maps SDK to web components.  

Note:  

• Out-of-the-box ArcGIS Experience Builder widgets (e.g., Basemap Gallery, Swipe, Map, Map Layers, Table) will be refactored to JavaScript Maps SDK web components in Q1 2027. Since the Experience Builder framework and widgets may take more time to migrate, developers should start their migration now, as there is no technical barrier.
  • Out-of-the-box widgets will not be affected.
• ArcGIS Experience Builder version 1.19 or later uses React 19 with full web components support.