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Glossary
Glossary
Find Mapbox-related terms and their definitions.
access token
Mapbox uses access tokens to associate your account with your requests to Mapbox API resources.
annotation
An annotation is a defined location on a map in the Mapbox Maps SDK for iOS.
attribution
Attribution is the combination of two visual elements that are placed on all Mapbox maps, stating that a map was created with Mapbox tools and data.
bearing
Bearing is the direction you're facing, as measured from a compass.
bounding box
A bounding box is a mechanism for describing a particular area of a map.
camera
In maps that use Mapbox GL, the camera is a map's field of view.
CSV
The CSV (comma-separated values) format can be used for mapping if the file contains geographic information.
data-driven styling
Data-driven styling allows you to style spatial data based on its properties.
dataset
A dataset is an editable collection of GeoJSON features.
dataset ID
Use the dataset ID to make requests related to the dataset using the Datasets API.
Datasets API
The Mapbox Datasets API allows you to read, create, update, and remove datasets and dataset features.
Directions API
With the Mapbox Directions API, you can add routing with turn-by-turn directions to your map.
expression
An expression defines a formula for computing the value of any layout property, paint property, or filter within a map style.
feature
A geospatial feature refers to an individual point, line, or polygon in a dataset or in a tileset.
feature querying
Feature querying is the process by which features in a tileset are identified at a specific location.
filter
A filter, also known as a predicate within iOS and macOS, gives you fine-grained control over the content of a style layer.
font stack
A font stack is a collection of fonts that belong to an individual layer within a style.
geocoding
Geocoding is the process of taking an address or name of a place and converting it into latitude and longitude values.
Geocoding API
The Mapbox Geocoding API performs two main tasks, forward geocoding and reverse geocoding.
GeoJSON
GeoJSON is a file format for representing map data. Mapbox web services and APIs serve geospatial data as GeoJSON.
GPX
GPX (GPS eXchange format) is a data format commonly created from GPS receivers.
icon
An icon is an image that appears in a symbol layer on a map.
iframe
An iframe is an HTML element that allows you to embed a map into a website.
Isochrone API
The Mapbox Isochrone API allows you to request polygon or line features that show areas that are reachable within a specified amount of time from a location.
KML
KML is a geospatial file format that’s commonly used in Google products.
latitude and longitude
Latitude and longitude are a pair of numbers (coordinates) used to describe a position on the plane of a geographic coordinate system.
layout and paint properties
Layout and paint properties are two sub-properties of a layer that decides how data from the layer is rendered in maps that use Mapbox GL.
line
A line is a geospatial feature defined by connected pairs of latitude and longitude coordinates.
Maki icon set
The Maki icon set is used in map styles. It includes common point of interest icons.
map loads
A map load occurs whenever a Mapbox GL JS Map object is initialized on a webpage. It is used to track map usage on the web.
Map Matching API
The Mapbox Map Matching API allows you to take recorded traces, such as the data from a GPS tracker, and snap them to the OpenStreetMap road and path network.
map view
Map views were formerly used as a unit of measurement to track map usage on the web. Map views are now deprecated.
Mapbox GL
Mapbox GL is a suite of open-source libraries for embedding customizable and responsive client-side maps in web, mobile, and desktop applications.
Mapbox GL JS
Mapbox GL JS is a JavaScript library that uses Mapbox GL to render interactive maps.
Mapbox Maps SDK for Android
The Mapbox Maps SDK for Android is an open-source toolset for building mapping applications for Android devices.
Mapbox Maps SDK for iOS
The Mapbox Maps SDK for iOS is an open-source toolset for building mapping applications for iPhone and iPad devices.
Mapbox Maps SDK for Unity
The Mapbox Maps SDK for Unity is an open-source toolset for building location-based augmented and virtual reality applications with Unity, using real map data.
Mapbox Navigation SDKs
The Mapbox Navigation SDKs for iOS and Android provide open-source toolsets for integrating turn-by-turn navigation within mobile applications.
Mapbox Satellite
Mapbox Satellite is a global tileset of high-resolution satellite imagery.
Mapbox Studio
Mapbox Studio is a web application for creating map styles and managing your datasets and tilesets.
Mapbox Tiling Service (MTS)
Mapbox Tiling Service (MTS) allows you to list, delete, and retrieve TileJSON metadata for raster and vector tilesets.
Maps SDK for React Native
The Maps SDK for React Native is a community-managed React Native library for integrating Mapbox maps into mobile apps.
marker
A marker is a visual representation of a specific coordinate on a map.
Matrix API
The Mapbox Matrix API calculates travel times between many points in one API request.
MBTiles
MBTiles is a file format for storing tilesets.
monthly active users
Monthly active users (MAU) is a billing metric for Mapbox Maps, Navigation, and Visions SDKs.
offline regions and offline packs
An offline region is a defined region of a map that is available for use in conditions with limited or no network connection.
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap is a collaborative mapping project that creates a world map.
Optimization API
The Mapbox Optimization API returns a duration-optimized route between provided input coordinates.
overzoom
Overzoom is the result of a tileset being zoomed in beyond its given zoom extent.
point
A point is a geospatial feature defined by one pair of latitude and longitude coordinates.
polygon
A polygon is a geospatial feature defined by connected pairs of latitude and longitude coordinates forming an area with at least three sides.
projection
Projections are methods of transforming the coordinates of locations on the planet to a two-dimensional plane.
quadtree
Map tiles are stored in a quadtree data structure.
raster data
Raster data is a pixel-based data format used in raster tilesets.
Raster Tiles API
The Mapbox Raster Tiles API allows you to request a single tile from a Mapbox-hosted raster tileset.
routing profile
A routing profile is a set of rules that a routing engine uses to find the optimal route between two points.
runtime styling
Runtime styling allows you to dynamically change the map style displayed on your Mapbox map in real time.
shapefile
A shapefile is a file format for storing geographic vector data.
simplestyle
Simplestyle is an open source specification for styling GeoJSON data used in Mapbox.js and in GeoJSON overlays in the Static Images API.
SKU tokens
SKU tokens are used by some SDKs for tracking usage.
source
A source supplies the data that Mapbox GL displays on a map.
source layer
A source layer is an individual layer of data within a source.
sprite
A sprite is a single image that contains all the icons included in a style.
Static Images API
The Mapbox Static Images API allows you to request a standalone, static image of a map generated from a Mapbox GL-based style.
Static Tiles API
The Mapbox Static Tiles API serves raster tiles generated from a Mapbox GL style.
style
A style is a JSON document that defines the visual appearance of a map.
style component
A style component is a collection of related map features that you style as a single unit in the Mapbox Studio style editor. Each component can contain one or more layers.
style ID
A style ID is a map style's unique identifier.
style layer
A style layer is used to add styling rules to a specific subset of data in a map style.
style URL
A style URL allows you to reference a style created with Mapbox Studio.
style-optimized vector tiles
Style-optimized vector tiles remove any layers or features in a tile that are not represented by a given Mapbox style.
Styles API
The Mapbox Styles API allows you to programmatically read and write map styles, fonts, and sprites.
SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a markup language for describing two-dimensional vector graphics.
symbol layer
A symbol layer is a layer in which icons or text are added to a Mapbox map.
telemetry
Telemetry is a process in which automatic sensors create and update maps by gathering de-identified data about where and how people are moving.
TIFF
TIFF is a file format for saving raster images.
TileJSON
TileJSON is a format for describing tilesets.
Tilequery API
The Mapbox Tilequery API allows you to retrieve data about specific features from a vector tileset, based on a given latitude and longitude.
tileset
A tileset is a collection of raster or vector data broken up into a uniform grid of square tiles at 22 preset zoom levels.
tileset billing metrics
Tilesets created using Mapbox Tiling Service or the Mapbox Uploads API are billed according to processing and hosting metrics.
tileset ID
Tileset IDs, previously known as Map IDs, are used to identify vector and raster tilesets.
tileset recipe
This feature is in beta. Tileset recipes describe how tileset source data should look and behave when a tileset is published by Mapbox Tiling Service (MTS).
tileset source
This feature is in beta. Tileset sources are line-delimited GeoJSON sources used to create new tilesets using Mapbox Tiling Service (MTS).
Tokens API
The Mapbox Tokens API allows you to create, edit, and delete access tokens.
Trip
A trip is a navigation session in one of two modes: Free Drive or Active Guidance.
Turf.js
Turf.js is an open-source JavaScript library used for spatial analysis.
Uploads API
The Mapbox Uploads API transforms geographic data into tilesets that can be used with maps and geographic applications.
vector tiles
A vector tile is a lightweight data format for storing geospatial vector data, such as points, lines, and polygons.
Vector Tiles API
The Mapbox Vector Tiles API allows you to request a single tile from a Mapbox-hosted vector tileset.
WordPress map block
The WordPress map block allows WordPress users to add a Mapbox map to any post or page.
worldview
In Mapbox vector tilesets, the "worldview" data field is used to identify geographic features whose characteristics are defined differently by various groups.
zoom extent
The zoom extent is the range of zoom levels at which a tileset is visible.
zoom level
A zoom level determines how much of a map is visible.
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