How do web layers function in ArcGIS Enterprise?

In ArcGIS Enterprise, web layers function primarily as data sources. This means that they are integral components that allow users to access, visualize, and analyze geospatial data over the web. Web layers can represent various types of geospatial data, such as maps, imagery, feature data, or 3D scenes. By serving as data sources, they enable users to leverage this data in applications, facilitating dynamic interaction and integration with multiple services.

When users create and publish web layers, they can draw information from underlying datasets stored in databases or files, making real-time updates possible as data changes over time. This capability is essential for applications that rely on current geographic information, supporting decision-making processes across various industries such as urban planning, environmental management, and transportation.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary role of web layers in ArcGIS Enterprise. While user interaction is a feature of web applications derived from these layers, web layers themselves serve a broader purpose by providing the underlying data needed for those interactions. Similarly, the concept of being purely decorative or existing only offline does not align with the functionality and operational characteristics of web layers in an enterprise context.