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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.

Tags are typically discussed within wider community, for example at tagging mailing list in way that allows everybody to contribute. In cases of consensus that tagging in a different way is preferable tag can be considered as deprecated. There are various ways that together result in reduced tag usage and each requires consensus or agreement from relevant people

• Tag can be described as unwanted together with reasons for that on OSM Wiki
• Validator complaints may be added to JOSM, iD, Osmose and other validators or other Quality assurance tools
  • Typically it requires opening issue on bug tracker of a given project
• Support may be dropped from presets and rendering of editors
  • Typically it requires opening issue on bug tracker of a given project
• People may check tag usage in their area and edit objects to improve tagging
• In rare cases automatic edits can be done to improve tagging. Such edits must follow Automated Edits code of conduct

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.

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	overpass-turbo	aerialway=zip_line	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-12-21	amenity=abandoned	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	advertising=*	11	An ad is not an amenity... Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated".
2015-12-18	amenity=artwork	overpass-turbo	tourism=artwork	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-12-08	amenity=car_repair	overpass-turbo	shop=car_repair	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-01-02	amenity=citymap_post	overpass-turbo	tourism=information	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-12-18	amenity=community_center	overpass-turbo	amenity=community_centre	39	British English is preferred in tags.
2015-12-21	amenity=creche	overpass-turbo	amenity=childcare or amenity=kindergarten	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-01-02	amenity=disused	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	amenity=school or amenity=college or amenity=university	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2014-07	amenity=emergency_phone	overpass-turbo	emergency=phone	47	WikiProject Emergency Cleanup
2015-05-13	amenity=ev_charging	overpass-turbo	amenity=charging_station	26	The latter tag is more expressive than the former.
2014-07	amenity=fire_hydrant	overpass-turbo	emergency=fire_hydrant	47	WikiProject Emergency Cleanup
2009-10	amenity=garages	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	tourism=hotel	7	better fits into toplevel tags
2015-12-22	amenity=kiosk	overpass-turbo	shop=kiosk	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-12-21	amenity=nursery	overpass-turbo	amenity=childcare or amenity=kindergarten	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-12-21	amenity=park	overpass-turbo	leisure=park	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-12-18	amenity=preschool	overpass-turbo	amenity=kindergarten	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-01-02	amenity=proposed	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	office=estate_agent	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-04	amenity=sauna	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	shop=*	1	Introduction of "shop"
2014-10-20	amenity=winery	overpass-turbo	shop=winery or craft=winery	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-11-07	amenity=youth_centre	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=arch	25	Proposed features/Bridge types
2013-10-06	bridge=beam	overpass-turbo	bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=beam	25	Proposed features/Bridge types
2013-10-06	bridge=humpback	overpass-turbo	bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=humpback	25	Proposed features/Bridge types
2013-10-06	bridge=lift	overpass-turbo	bridge=movable+ bridge:movable=lift	25	Proposed features/Bridge types
2013-10-06	bridge=pontoon	overpass-turbo	bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=floating	25	Proposed features/Bridge types
2013-10-06	bridge=suspension	overpass-turbo	bridge=yes+ bridge:structure=suspension	25	Proposed features/Bridge types
2013-10-06	bridge=swing	overpass-turbo	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=*	overpass-turbo	building=*	29	Proposed features/Building attributes has been abandoned.
2011-10-27	building=entrance	overpass-turbo	entrance=*	14	Cleaning the semantics of the "building" tag; entrance=* approved. building=entrance is still considered coexisting.
2006	class=*	overpass-turbo	highway=*	2	Introduction of Key:highway
2012-11-28	color=*	overpass-turbo	colour=*	18	Usage of American form color probably mainly due to a bug in JOSM presets.
2013-10-22	date_off=*	overpass-turbo	Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=*	20	This is more expressive and more flexible.
2013-10-22	date_on=*	overpass-turbo	Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=*	20	This is more expressive and more flexible.
2013-10-22	day_off=*	overpass-turbo	Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=*	20	This is more expressive and more flexible.
2013-10-22	day_on=*	overpass-turbo	Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=*	20	This is more expressive and more flexible.
2014-05-01	drinkable=*	overpass-turbo	drinking_water=*	21	There is no need for redundant tags. One key is sufficient.
2012-09-14	escalator=*	overpass-turbo	highway=steps+ conveying=*	38	Proposed features/Escalators and Moving Walkways
2008-10-19	fenced=yes	overpass-turbo	barrier=fence	48	Introduction of barrier=*
2015-12-21	highway=abandoned	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	highway=tertiary or highway=unclassified or highway=service or such	9	Abandoned feature.
2014-09-21	highway=no	overpass-turbo	No tags	33	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". See DE:Tag:highway=no.
2008-10-19	highway=stile	overpass-turbo	barrier=stile	4	Their "concept" better fits in this new key and highway gets a bit uncluttered.
2008-03-19	highway=unsurfaced	overpass-turbo	highway=* + surface=unpaved highway=track	5	Any highway classification can be unsurfaced.
2014-10-19	historic_name=*	overpass-turbo	old_name=* or name=*	37	Taken from Category:Key descriptions with status_"deprecated".
2015-12-21	historic=abandoned	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	No	6	No description, usage completely unknown
2008-01-20	historic=museum	overpass-turbo	tourism=museum	16	Tag historic=* should be used for historic items (and therefore not a museum).
2013-10-22	hour_off=*	overpass-turbo	Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=*	20	This is more expressive and more flexible.
2013-10-22	hour_on=*	overpass-turbo	Conditional restrictions or opening_hours=*	20	This is more expressive and more flexible.
2010	landuse=farm	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	landuse=farmland	46	Proposed features/agricultural Field#Conclusion?
2011-05-09	landuse=pond	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	natural=beach	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2014-08-02	leisure=club	overpass-turbo	club=*	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-01-02	leisure=gambling	overpass-turbo	amenity=gambling or such	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2014-01-27	leisure=video_arcade	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	man_made=tower+ tower:type=cooling	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-01-02	man_made=cut_line	overpass-turbo	man_made=cutline	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2017-06-17	man_made=hot_water_tank	overpass-turbo	man_made=storage_tank+ content=hot_water	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2013-05-23	man_made=jetty	overpass-turbo	man_made=pier	42	Tag whose definition remains unclear. man_made=pier is way more widely used.
2016-01-02	man_made=village_pump	overpass-turbo	man_made=water_well	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-07-09	man_made=water_tank	overpass-turbo	man_made=storage_tank+ content=water	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-01-02	man_made=well	overpass-turbo	man_made=water_well	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-03-19	name:botanical=*	overpass-turbo	species=*	37	Taken from Category:Key descriptions with status_"deprecated".
2011-08-31	natural=land	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	natural=wetland + wetland=marsh	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2017-03-08	natural=moor	overpass-turbo	Look the natural=moor page for lots of suggestions.	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2009-08-08	noexit=no	overpass-turbo	fixme=Continue	40	If there is an exit... it should be mapped!
2016-03-02	office=administrative	overpass-turbo	office=government	55	Proposed features/Government offices
2015-06-07	office=real_estate_agent	overpass-turbo	office=estate_agent	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-06-07	office=real_estate	overpass-turbo	office=estate_agent	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2012-12-08	place_name=*	overpass-turbo	name=*	23	Although it made sense in the past, nowadays it completely overlaps with name=*. More info here.
2016-06-30	pole=transition	overpass-turbo	location:transition=yes	54	Implementation of location=* key by Proposed features/PipelineExtension which also supports underwater.
2010-09	power_rating=*	overpass-turbo	generator:output=*	28	Proposed features/generator rationalisation
2010-09	power_source=*	overpass-turbo	generator:source=*	28	Proposed features/generator rationalisation
2013-01-24	power=station	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	power=cable + location=underground	54	Implementation of location=* key by Proposed features/PipelineExtension which also supports underwater.
2014-10-24	railway=preserved	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	Cycle_routes	27	Cycle routes
2007-07-16	shop=*	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	shop=antiques	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2012-03-08	shop=auto_parts	overpass-turbo	shop=car_parts	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2014-01-27	shop=betting	overpass-turbo	shop=bookmaker or shop=lottery See also Tag:shop=betting.	44	Proposed features/Gambling
2016-01-02	shop=disused	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	shop=scuba_diving	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2010-06-06	shop=fish	overpass-turbo	shop=seafood (see also Tag:shop=fish).	45	Proposed features/seafood shop
2010-06-06	shop=fishmonger	overpass-turbo	shop=seafood	45	Proposed features/seafood shop
2015-12-20	shop=furnace	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	shop=art	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2014-01-27	shop=gambling	overpass-turbo	amenity=gambling (see also Tag:shop=gambling).	44	Proposed features/Gambling
2017-04-06	shop=glass	overpass-turbo	craft=glaziery	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2017-04-07	shop=moneylender	overpass-turbo	shop=money_lender	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2012-02-11	shop=organic	overpass-turbo	shop=*+ organic=*	34	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated". See also Talk:Tag:shop=organic.
2015-12-08	shop=perfume	overpass-turbo	shop=perfumery	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2015-06-07	shop=real_estate	overpass-turbo	office=estate_agent	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-01-02	shop=window	overpass-turbo	craft=window_construction	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2016-01-02	shop=windows	overpass-turbo	craft=window_construction	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2013-12-23	sport=diving	overpass-turbo	sport=scuba_diving or sport=cliff_diving	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2010-08-25	sport=gaelic_football	overpass-turbo	sport=gaelic_games+ specific tag of gaelic game	35	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated".
2016-09-13	sport=paragliding	overpass-turbo	sport=free_flying	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2014-05-28	tourism=bed_and_breakfast	overpass-turbo	tourism=guest_house+ guest_house=bed_and_breakfast	31	Taken from Category:Tag descriptions with status "deprecated"
2008-03-19	waterway=mooring	overpass-turbo	mooring=*	10	More flexibility; allows us to keep original value of waterway=
2010-05-10	waterway=rapids	overpass-turbo	Whitewater sports	43	Do not make any automated edit for this: read WikiProject Whitewater Maps.
2016-01-02	waterway=wadi	overpass-turbo	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=*	overpass-turbo	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	overpass-turbo	telecom=exchange	56

See also

• Discardable tags