What can you get from OpenStreetMap?
OpenStreetMap supplies map data about features such as streets and parks. A map can draw that data as tiles, the pieces of background you see on screen. Choose who will serve the tiles. The Foundation’s public raster tiles are a separate best-effort service with their own policy.
Can you use the public servers for search and offline maps?
The Foundation’s public Nominatim search service has an app-wide maximum of one request per second and disallows autocomplete. The Foundation’s standard public raster tile policy prohibits bulk downloading and offline prefetch. If you need those features, choose a service that allows your use or plan to run your own.
If you use the Foundation’s standard raster tiles, keep the required credit visible and respect the cache settings sent with the tiles. Keep personal or confidential location data out of the public services. The Foundation bars no-code, low-code and vibe-coding platforms from offering public Nominatim as their generic address search. A developer must deliberately choose it, understand and follow the policy, and be able to switch the app to another service if the Foundation asks.
What do you keep if you switch map providers?
Keep your own venue details, any data-source credits and the terms for data you reuse. OpenStreetMap uses the Open Database License, which requires attribution and can require sharing a distributed adapted database under the same license. A provider that uses OpenStreetMap data can also have its own service terms.
How would you choose a map source for a venue list?
Draw a fictional park, a street and an event entrance. Make a plan without sending a lookup or downloading tiles.
- Separate the facts and the mapWrite which details come from the event organizer, and which the map source supplies. Put the entrance details next to the map.
- Choose the features you needMark whether visitors only see pins, search as they type or save a map offline. Cross off any service whose published policy excludes the feature.