What are hosted feature layers in ArcGIS?

Hosted feature layers are specific to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise, designed to facilitate the management and sharing of spatial data. When a feature layer is created directly within these platforms, it is associated with a cloud or enterprise portal environment, meaning the data is stored in the portal's data store. This characteristic allows for easy access, integration, and collaboration among users who can utilize these layers for mapping, analysis, and application development.

By being stored within the portal, hosted feature layers benefit from ArcGIS's built-in capabilities, such as versioning, sharing settings, and integrated tools for data editing and visualization. This makes them highly versatile for users needing to create dynamic maps and applications, while also ensuring that data is securely managed within the organizational framework of ArcGIS.

The option regarding layers managing complex data visualizations is related to the functionality of feature layers but does not specifically address their nature of being created and stored in a portal. The mention of external data connections indicates a different category of data management rather than hosted layers. Finally, suggesting that these layers are for exclusive administrative use overlooks their broader applicability for various types of users and use cases within the ArcGIS environment.