Data FAQ

Main article: Using OpenStreetMap

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about Data.

See other FAQs at FAQ or Category:FAQ.

If you have a question not on this list, feel free to ask it in one of the Contact channels.

Can I use data from OSM?

Yes! You must follow rules. Typically it means that you must provide an attribution.

How do I link to a particular latitude and longitude on OSM from my own website?

You can link to the slippy map with a specific latitude and longitude and zoom level:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/
?mlat=[latitude in degrees with decimals]
&mlon=[longitude in degrees with decimals]
&zoom=[zoom level 1-19]

(newlines here inserted for readability)

Coordinates must be positive for North and East, negative for South and West. For example, 28° 44' 16.09"S would be mlat=-28.737803 and 24° 45' 49.33"E would be mlon=24.763703 (that's Kimberley, South Africa, in case you're wondering).

Zoom levels: 1 = full zoom out, 19 = full zoom in.

Or link to a static image

How can I display maps on my website?

Read Getting Started With Leaflet on switch2osm.org

How can I download a map?

Use the 'Share' button to download in PNG, JPEG, SVG or PDF format. If you need other formats, see the Export page on this wiki.

How can I extract information [e.g. POI's] from OpenStreetMap (like a list and location of all of the churches in a certain area)?

• If you want a large batch of POIs, download planet.osm or an extract and then use software that processes OSM data (e.g. osmosis) to extract your desired information.
• Or use the API. See getting poi data from OSM for a more detailed explanation.

How can I download this data and put it in my GPS?

If you have a Garmin unit, see OSM Map On Garmin. Several users provide ready-made Garmin format maps for you to download and copy to your GPS.

Why doesn't 'Export' work?

When the rendering servers have a high load from traffic to the main map some of the exports gets temporarily disabled. This is because the rendering of custom images from the export tab takes a lot of resources compared to the slippy map.

If you want to use the exports you can try again later or see other alternatives.

Where can I find software using OSM data?

For current software using OSM, see the Software page or its category, and also neat stuff for more experimental ideas.

For a more development-related angle, see Routing (and its category), the Beginners Guide topic on usage, and the Developers' pages.