Deprecated features
OpenStreetMap does not have "banned features", as anybody is allowed and encouraged to use any tag they think is useful.
However, from time to time the wiki community suggests a new feature instead of an older one, to improve tagging clarity or structure. If there is no strong reason to stick to the old tags in these cases, you might want to go along with the recommendation and use the new tags suggested here.
![]() | Under no circumstances should you automatically (or semi-automatically) change "deprecated" tags to something else in the database on a large scale without conforming to the Automated Edits code of conduct. Any such edits will be reverted. |
Wiki guidelines
Please also keep the description box in sync:
- Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
- Category:Key descriptions with status "deprecated"
You may also use Template:Deprecated on the feature page.
![]() | You should update wiki content consistently, verifying where the page you changed is being linked around the wiki. Please also add warnings of deprecation in translated pages, and not only in the English one, otherwise you will have regions in the world where this tag still in widespread use just because wiki pages were outdated |
Deprecated features
The following are features for which alternative tagging is recommended by those engaged in tagging discussions. Note that some of these features are still on Map Features and should remain there as long as they are still widely used!
Date | Deprecated key/value | Current usage | Suggestion of replacement | N | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014-12-27 | aerialway=canopy | aerialway=zip_line | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-12-21 | amenity=abandoned | abandoned:amenity=*, or such | 49 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". Besides, the deprecated tagging does not indicate which kind of amenity (or whatever) it used to/will be... See also Lifecycle prefix. | |
2016-04-06 | amenity=advertising | advertising=* | 11 | An ad is not an amenity... Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". | |
2015-12-18 | amenity=artwork | tourism=artwork | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-12-08 | amenity=car_repair | shop=car_repair | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-01-02 | amenity=citymap_post | tourism=information | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-12-18 | amenity=community_center | amenity=community_centre | 39 | British English is preferred in tags. | |
2015-12-21 | amenity=creche | amenity=childcare or amenity=kindergarten |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-01-02 | amenity=disused | disused:amenity=*, or such | 49 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". Besides, the deprecated tagging does not indicate which kind of amenity (or whatever) it used to/will be... See also Lifecycle prefix. | |
2015-02 | amenity=dog_bin | amenity=waste_basket+ waste=dog_excrement or amenity=vending_machine+ vending=excrement_bags |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-02 | amenity=dog_waste_bin | amenity=waste_basket+ waste=dog_excrement or amenity=vending_machine+ vending=excrement_bags |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-12-08 | amenity=education | amenity=college or amenity=school or amenity=university or office=tutoring |
12 | This tag has never been approved, nor had wide usage. Take one of the replacements to correctly tag the education place. | |
2016-01-02 | amenity=education | amenity=school or amenity=college or amenity=university |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2014-07 | amenity=emergency_phone | emergency=phone | 47 | WikiProject Emergency Cleanup | |
2015-05-13 | amenity=ev_charging | amenity=charging_station | 26 | The latter tag is more expressive than the former. | |
2014-07 | amenity=fire_hydrant | emergency=fire_hydrant | 47 | WikiProject Emergency Cleanup | |
2009-10 | amenity=garages | amenity=parking+ parking=* or landuse=garages |
50 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". There is currently no consensus on the preferred tagging suggestions, as both got consensus on Oct. 2009 (Proposed features/Additional parking types for amenity=parking; Proposed features/tag:landuse=garages). | |
2007 | amenity=hotel | tourism=hotel | 7 | better fits into toplevel tags | |
2015-12-22 | amenity=kiosk | shop=kiosk | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-12-21 | amenity=nursery | amenity=childcare or amenity=kindergarten |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-12-21 | amenity=park | leisure=park | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-12-18 | amenity=preschool | amenity=kindergarten | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-01-02 | amenity=proposed | proposed:amenity=*, or such | 49 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". Besides, the deprecated tagging does not indicate which kind of amenity (or whatever) it used to/will be... See also Lifecycle prefix. | |
2015-06-07 | amenity=real_estate | office=estate_agent | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-04 | amenity=sauna | leisure=sauna | 32 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with_status "deprecated". Tagging as "leisure" has been proposed, while "amenity" has been marked as deprecated in the same time. | |
2007-07-16 | amenity=shop | shop=* | 1 | Introduction of "shop" | |
2014-10-20 | amenity=winery | shop=winery or craft=winery |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-11-07 | amenity=youth_centre | amenity=community_centre + community_centre:for=juvenile or community_centre:for=child;juvenile |
20 | This is more expressive and more flexible. | |
2013-10-06 | bridge=arch | bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=arch |
25 | Proposed features/Bridge types | |
2013-10-06 | bridge=beam | bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=beam |
25 | Proposed features/Bridge types | |
2013-10-06 | bridge=humpback | bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=humpback |
25 | Proposed features/Bridge types | |
2013-10-06 | bridge=lift | bridge=movable+ bridge:movable=lift |
25 | Proposed features/Bridge types | |
2013-10-06 | bridge=pontoon | bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=floating |
25 | Proposed features/Bridge types | |
2013-10-06 | bridge=suspension | bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=suspension |
25 | Proposed features/Bridge types | |
2013-10-06 | bridge=swing | bridge=movable+ bridge:movable=swing or bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=simple-suspension |
24 | Proposed features/Bridge types - was formerly used to map two very different bridge types (hanging/swinging rope bridges and movable swing bridges) | |
2012 | building:type=* | building=* | 29 | Proposed features/Building attributes has been abandoned. | |
2011-10-27 | building=entrance | entrance=* | 14 | Cleaning the semantics of the "building" tag; entrance=* approved. building=entrance is still considered coexisting. | |
2006 | class=* | highway=* | 2 | Introduction of Key:highway | |
2012-11-28 | color=* | colour=* | 18 | Usage of American form color probably mainly due to a bug in JOSM presets. | |
2013-10-22 | date_off=* | Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=* |
20 | This is more expressive and more flexible. | |
2013-10-22 | date_on=* | Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=* |
20 | This is more expressive and more flexible. | |
2013-10-22 | day_off=* | Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=* |
20 | This is more expressive and more flexible. | |
2013-10-22 | day_on=* | Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=* |
20 | This is more expressive and more flexible. | |
2014-05-01 | drinkable=* | drinking_water=* | 21 | There is no need for redundant tags. One key is sufficient. | |
2012-09-14 | escalator=* | highway=steps+ conveying=* |
38 | Proposed features/Escalators and Moving Walkways | |
2008-10-19 | fenced=yes | barrier=fence | 48 | Introduction of barrier=* | |
2015-12-21 | highway=abandoned | abandoned:highway=*, or such | 49 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". Besides, the deprecated tagging does not indicate which kind of amenity (or whatever) it used to/will be... See also Lifecycle prefix. | |
2009-08 | highway=byway | highway=track/path + designation=byway_open_to_all_traffic or designation=restricted_byway access=* |
13 | More accurate tagging for public rights of way in England and Wales. | |
2012 | highway=ford | ford=* | 17 | "highway=ford" on a way doesn't allow tagging the highway itself (as e.g. "unclassified"). This doesn't apply to nodes; though, and renderers haven't quite caught up (ref openstreetmap-carto issue 267 and elsewhere) - don't automatically (or semi-automatically) change "ford" node tagging. | |
2008-06-12 | highway=incline_steep | incline=* | 3 | Any type of highway=* (primary, secondary, ...) may have inclined sections tagged separately, this does not create a new type of highway | |
2008-06-12 | highway=incline | incline=* | 3 | Any type of highway=* (primary, secondary, ...) may have inclined sections tagged separately, this does not create a new type of highway | |
2007 | highway=minor | highway=tertiary or highway=unclassified or highway=service or such | 9 | Abandoned feature. | |
2014-09-21 | highway=no | No tags | 33 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". See DE:Tag:highway=no. | |
2008-10-19 | highway=stile | barrier=stile | 4 | Their "concept" better fits in this new key and highway gets a bit uncluttered. | |
2008-03-19 | highway=unsurfaced | highway=* + surface=unpaved highway=track |
5 | Any highway classification can be unsurfaced. | |
2014-10-19 | historic_name=* | old_name=* or name=* |
37 | Taken from Category:Key descriptions with status_"deprecated". | |
2015-12-21 | historic=abandoned | abandoned:historic=*, or such | 49 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". Besides, the deprecated tagging does not indicate which kind of amenity (or whatever) it used to/will be... See also Lifecycle prefix. | |
2008-01-10 | historic=icon | No | 6 | No description, usage completely unknown | |
2008-01-20 | historic=museum | tourism=museum | 16 | Tag historic=* should be used for historic items (and therefore not a museum). | |
2013-10-22 | hour_off=* | Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=* |
20 | This is more expressive and more flexible. | |
2013-10-22 | hour_on=* | Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=* |
20 | This is more expressive and more flexible. | |
2010 | landuse=farm | landuse=farmland or landuse=farmyard |
36 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". Originally designed to mark agricultural zones, this tag has confused many contributors, who tagged also buildings with it. | |
2010 | landuse=field | landuse=farmland | 46 | Proposed features/agricultural Field#Conclusion? | |
2011-05-09 | landuse=pond | natural=water+ water=pond |
30 | Even though this tag is widely used, it has been deprecated by Proposed features/Water details. Both tagging schemes should persist for some time. | |
2007-07-16 | landuse=wood | landuse=forest or natural=wood |
8 | Was intended to depend on whether the woodland/forest was "managed" or "primaeval", but also see Forest for more discussion about the problems here. | |
2017-04-13 | leisure=beach | natural=beach | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2014-08-02 | leisure=club | club=* | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-01-02 | leisure=gambling | amenity=gambling or such | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2014-01-27 | leisure=video_arcade | leisure=adult_gaming_centre for venues with gambling machines; or leisure=amusement_arcade for venues with pay-to-play games. |
44 | Proposed features/Gambling | |
2017-04-06 | man_made=cooling_tower | man_made=tower+ tower:type=cooling |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-01-02 | man_made=cut_line | man_made=cutline | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2017-06-17 | man_made=hot_water_tank | man_made=storage_tank+ content=hot_water |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2013-05-23 | man_made=jetty | man_made=pier | 42 | Tag whose definition remains unclear. man_made=pier is way more widely used. | |
2016-01-02 | man_made=village_pump | man_made=water_well | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-07-09 | man_made=water_tank | man_made=storage_tank+ content=water |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-01-02 | man_made=well | man_made=water_well | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-03-19 | name:botanical=* | species=* | 37 | Taken from Category:Key descriptions with status_"deprecated". | |
2011-08-31 | natural=land | Relation type=multipolygon or natural=coastline |
15 | For tagging islands in lakes and rivers use Relations/Multipolygon, for islands in the sea use natural=coastline and place=island. | |
2008-11-18 | natural=marsh | natural=wetland + wetland=marsh |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2017-03-08 | natural=moor | Look the natural=moor page for lots of suggestions. | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2009-08-08 | noexit=no | fixme=Continue | 40 | If there is an exit... it should be mapped! | |
2016-03-02 | office=administrative | office=government | 55 | Proposed features/Government offices | |
2015-06-07 | office=real_estate_agent | office=estate_agent | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-06-07 | office=real_estate | office=estate_agent | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2012-12-08 | place_name=* | name=* | 23 | Although it made sense in the past, nowadays it completely overlaps with name=*. More info here. | |
2016-06-30 | pole=transition | location:transition=yes | 54 | Implementation of location=* key by Proposed features/PipelineExtension which also supports underwater. | |
2010-09 | power_rating=* | generator:output=* | 28 | Proposed features/generator rationalisation | |
2010-09 | power_source=* | generator:source=* | 28 | Proposed features/generator rationalisation | |
2013-01-24 | power=station | power=substation or power=plant or power=generator |
19 | The value "station" is ambiguous and has been used both for substations and power plants / generators ("power station"). Please take the opportunity to review the object and add useful information, not just "correct" it. | |
2014-11-25 | power=sub_station | power=substation | 19 | The value "station" is ambiguous and has been used both for substations and power plants / generators ("power station"). Please take the opportunity to review the object and add useful information, not just "correct" it. | |
2013-02-01 | power=underground_cable | power=cable + location=underground | 54 | Implementation of location=* key by Proposed features/PipelineExtension which also supports underwater. | |
2014-10-24 | railway=preserved | historic=railway+ railway=rail (or whatever type) + railway:preserved=yes |
41 | See OpenRailwayMap/Aktiventreffen 2014 2#Tracks. Clashes with railway=narrow_gauge when such railways are preserved. | |
2008-05-30 | route=ncn | Cycle_routes | 27 | Cycle routes | |
2007-07-16 | shop=* | shop=yes or shop=* (the actual shop type) |
51 | A star '*' should not be considered as a correct value tag. | |
2015-12-08 | shop=antique | shop=antiques | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2012-03-08 | shop=auto_parts | shop=car_parts | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2014-01-27 | shop=betting | shop=bookmaker or shop=lottery See also Tag:shop=betting. |
44 | Proposed features/Gambling | |
2016-01-02 | shop=disused | disused:shop=*, or such | 49 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". Besides, the deprecated tagging does not indicate which kind of amenity (or whatever) it used to/will be... See also Lifecycle prefix. | |
2017-04-06 | shop=dive | shop=scuba_diving | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2010-06-06 | shop=fish | shop=seafood (see also Tag:shop=fish). | 45 | Proposed features/seafood shop | |
2010-06-06 | shop=fishmonger | shop=seafood | 45 | Proposed features/seafood shop | |
2015-12-20 | shop=furnace | shop=houseware or shop=heating or craft=plumber |
52 | This tag is confusing. A furnace is a big oven used for melting metals; some people also applied this tag for shops selling cooking stoves. | |
2016-01-02 | shop=gallery | shop=art | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2014-01-27 | shop=gambling | amenity=gambling (see also Tag:shop=gambling). | 44 | Proposed features/Gambling | |
2017-04-06 | shop=glass | craft=glaziery | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2017-04-07 | shop=moneylender | shop=money_lender | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2012-02-11 | shop=organic | shop=*+ organic=* |
34 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". See also Talk:Tag:shop=organic. | |
2015-12-08 | shop=perfume | shop=perfumery | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2015-06-07 | shop=real_estate | office=estate_agent | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-01-02 | shop=window | craft=window_construction | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2016-01-02 | shop=windows | craft=window_construction | 31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2013-12-23 | sport=diving | sport=scuba_diving or sport=cliff_diving |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2010-08-25 | sport=gaelic_football | sport=gaelic_games+ specific tag of gaelic game |
35 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". | |
2016-09-13 | sport=paragliding | sport=free_flying |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2014-05-28 | tourism=bed_and_breakfast | tourism=guest_house+ guest_house=bed_and_breakfast |
31 | Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated" | |
2008-03-19 | waterway=mooring | mooring=* | 10 | More flexibility; allows us to keep original value of waterway= | |
2010-05-10 | waterway=rapids | Whitewater sports | 43 | Do not make any automated edit for this: read WikiProject Whitewater Maps. | |
2016-01-02 | waterway=wadi | waterway=stream or waterway=river +intermittent=yes or/and natural=valley |
53 | In Arabic wadi means valley, but this conflicts with explanations in Wikipedia and probably with interpretations in various parts of the world. For initial discussion that ended with wadi deprecation see https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/tagging/2015-January/thread.html#20946. Beware that this kind of edit requires local knowledge: it is impossible to do it correctly with mass replace without local knowledge. | |
2014-06-06 | wood=* | leaf_type=* | 22 | The values wood=coniferous and wood=deciduous are ambiguous. It was approved to use leaf_type=* instead. | |
2018-10-27 | man_made=MDF | telecom=exchange | 56 |