The Arca genealogy service uses end-to-end encryption for cloud storage, where projects are encrypted with a user-generated key that remains inaccessible to the server. Users can manage local projects in their browser or utilize encrypted cloud storage, with options for secure key recovery and multi-device synchronization.
The platform supports collaborative editing by sharing project keys, with automatic key rotation upon access revocation. It also allows linking independent projects to reference individuals across different family trees. Users can export trees in PNG, SVG, PDF, and HTML formats or print them directly.
Arca features a flexible name input system allowing custom component sequences and multi-language translations. For photo management, the service integrates face-api for automated face detection. Historical location data is sourced from Wikidata, enabling the display of past place names and territorial affiliations.
The tool includes additional features such as event calendars, error checking, task tracking, and a project change log with rollback capabilities. It is available as a web service, desktop clients for Windows and macOS, and a Telegram mini-app.
