How can services rendered through ArcGIS Enterprise be accessed programmatically?

Accessing services rendered through ArcGIS Enterprise programmatically is accomplished primarily through REST API or Software Development Kits (SDKs). The REST API allows developers to interact with the GIS services over the web, facilitating tasks such as querying data, retrieving maps, and performing geospatial analysis. SDKs, provided by Esri, offer libraries and frameworks that simplify the integration of ArcGIS functionalities into various applications, allowing developers to leverage the full capabilities of ArcGIS without needing to build everything from scratch.

The other options do not encompass the full scope of programmatic access. Direct file downloads may not support dynamic interaction with services or utilize the full capabilities of ArcGIS. Relying solely on traditional SQL databases ignores the web-based nature of services provided by ArcGIS, which are designed to be accessed over the internet in a more flexible manner than a database. Additionally, while ArcGIS Online offers services, access to ArcGIS Enterprise is not limited to just those services, as it has its own infrastructure and offerings accessible through modern programming techniques like API calls and SDK usage.