What distinguishes web maps from web layers in ArcGIS Enterprise?

Web maps are distinct in that they serve as interactive front-end representations that allow users to visualize and interact with geographic data through a web interface. This means that users can pan, zoom, and manipulate the data presented in a web map, making it a dynamic tool for exploring spatial information. Web maps aggregate various data sources, including web layers, providing a user-friendly interface suitable for sharing with a wide audience.

In contrast, web layers are typically the underlying data components that can be used within these maps. They can represent different types of geographic information, such as feature layers or raster layers, and they serve as the actual data feeds that the web maps utilize to display content. While web layers may have certain requirements related to user access, such as logins for secured content, these aspects don't define their primary function.

Thus, the characteristic that web maps provide an interactive front-end representation underscores their role in enhancing user engagement and accessibility to the underlying geographic data provided by web layers.