# Which address product should you use?

## AddressBase product overview

There are four addressing products that make up our AddressBase product range, as well as the OS Places API​

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-507966773db7f866e9dcf1734691d0df5b5806c2%2Faddressbase-product-comparison.png?alt=media" alt="Image visually showing the difference of the table structure of the different addressing data"><figcaption><p>The four addressing products that make up our AddressBase product range</p></figcaption></figure>

The differences between them include:

* number of records
* detail of attribution
* how often you can receive updated data
* how well you can link it to other data​

## AddressBase family product matrix

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-de5a6c78248931b8de60d0bcf26df34e43125ff5%2Faddressbase-product-comparison-table.png?alt=media" alt="Table comparing different address products"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Using the different address products

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="AddressBase" %}
AddressBase only holds the address records from Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File matched with a Local Authority UPRN

It is the simplest of the AddressBase products

Join using the UPRN to your LLPG to identify if there are any inconsistencies in formal addresses between them

|                     |                                                  |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Approximate records | 29 million                                       |
| Currency            | Every 6 weeks                                    |
| Supply              | Full (gml) or COU (csv)                          |
| Format              | CSV or GML, Full GB coverage or Area of Interest |
| Unique Identifier   | UPRN, UDPRN, TOID                                |

Example:

We want to compare our Local Land and Property Gazetteer addresses against what Royal Mail hold in their Postal Address File (PAF)

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c45e5cec062d8505c51295b19899c056a6810eeb%2Fusing-addressbase.png?alt=media" alt="image of addressbase points around the M5 junction 28"><figcaption><p>AddressBase records</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="AddressBase Core" %}
AddressBase Core holds the address records from Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File and current address records from the Local Authority Land and Property Gazetteer

You can use AddressBase Core for any task that requires property addresses, and will benefit from a single line address field

AddressBase Core is available weekly, allowing you to hold the latest data on a more regular basis than the other AddressBase products

AddressBase Core contains an attribute for a single line address, removing the need to concatenate fields to create one

|                     |                                                         |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Approximate records | 33million                                               |
| Currency            | weekly                                                  |
| Supply              | Full (geopackage) or COU (csv)                          |
| Format              | CSV or GeoPackage, Full GB coverage or Area of Interest |
| Unique Identifier   | UPRN, USRN, TOID                                        |

Example:

We need a list of addresses that belong to the properties along these specific streets to update them on parking permit changes

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-23df5a7e9ca84d61eddc81c59458135b189ef188%2Fusing-addressbase-core.png?alt=media" alt="map of addressbase and addressbase core image of addressbase points around the M5 junction 28"><figcaption><p>AddressBase and AddressBase Core records</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="AddressBase Plus" %}
AddressBase Plus holds the address records from Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File, current address records from the Local Authority Land and Property Gazetteer, and objects without postal addresses

You can use AddressBase Plus for tasks that require the need to identify existing properties and real world objects

It has the most detailed address classification code allowing for a more thorough understanding of property characteristics and usage (e.g. Commercial, Medical, Hospital, Hospice)

|                     |                                                  |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Approximate records | 36.5 million                                     |
| Currency            | Every 6 weeks                                    |
| Supply              | Full (gml) or COU (csv)                          |
| Format              | CSV or GML, Full GB coverage or Area of Interest |
| Unique Identifier   | UPRN, USRN, TOID                                 |

Example:

What commercial property accommodating vulnerable members of society do we know are within a flood risk area in this town?

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a483195c440e084bdc8e84c73e994e3fe25e27c5%2Fusing-addressbase-plus.png?alt=media" alt="image of addressbase, addressbase core and addressbase plus image of addressbase points around the M5 junction 28"><figcaption><p>AddressBase, AddressBase Core and AddressBase Plus records</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="AddressBase Premium" %}
AddressBase Premium holds the address records from Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File, all address records from the Local Authority Land and Property Gazetteer, and objects without postal addresses

You can use AddressBase Premium for tasks that require the need to identify past and present property use, planned building construction, and historic addresses because it includes all LPI records

Store the COU files to visualise change over time

Join to OS MasterMap using the TOID to make your building addresses 3D with the building height attribute

AddressBase Premium unlike the other 3 products gives you the ability to look at how land and property use changes over time, by offering data associated with the full UPRN lifecycle

|                     |                                                              |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Approximate records | 42 million                                                   |
| Currency            | Every 6 weeks                                                |
| Supply              | Full (gml or geopackage) or COU (csv)                        |
| Format              | CSV, GML or GeoPackage, Full GB coverage or Area of Interest |
| Unique Identifier   | UPRN, USRN, TOID                                             |

Example:

We need to recognise how our high streets are changing, and what impact urban sprawl is having on our towns and cities

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f182beedd6c1849c6d1178d6411a4eab04e99523%2Fusing-addressbase-premium.png?alt=media" alt="image of addressbase, addressbase core, addressbase plus and addressbase premium image of addressbase points around the M5 junction 28"><figcaption><p>AddressBase, AddressBase Core, AddressBase Plus and AddressBase Premium records</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="OS Places API" %}
OS Places API contains AddressBase Premium data

You can use the API to make requests using full or partial address, a postcode, or a UPRN using either the Royal Mail (DPA) or Local Authority (LPI) Address (Royal Mail is the default)

Your searches can also find addresses closest to a given point, or all addresses within a defined area

You can use to maintain an address database

You can use in web mapping or on your website for address search functionality

Good for quick address search analysis

Useful if you don’t want to store address data locally

|                     |                                                                                                               |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Approximate records | 42 million                                                                                                    |
| Currency            | Daily                                                                                                         |
| Format              | API                                                                                                           |
| Accessed            | <p>WEB URL – JSON</p><p>IDE – JSON</p><p>QGIS – OS Address Search plugin</p><p>Esri – OS Places Connector</p> |

Example:

We need an address search function in our web application that will be accessible on our website and have rooftop accuracy

<figure><img src="https://3774974716-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzIfdYInJITdcxaLLMhlD%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-46a52daaa97618c1dd96a1b0f8201a1cf310d467%2Fusing-addressbase_os-places-api.png?alt=media" alt="OS Places API search results"><figcaption><p>OS Places API search results</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Summary

The AddressBase products and Places API offer an accurate account of addressing for land and property features

Each product can be more suited to specific tasks than others. AddressBase Premium gives you the richest amount of addressing data, but will require extra processing for more simplistic tasks

Places API gives you the ability to see daily updates, so as soon as changes in the LLPG are sent to GeoPlace and processed, they will appear in the API, so for public facing applications this provides the most up-to-date data

***

## Find out more

[OS NGD Documentation](https://docs.os.uk/osngd)

[OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/)

[GitHub](https://github.com/OrdnanceSurvey/osngd-resources)

[OS Select and Build](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/business-government/products/os-select-build)

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This content has been developed from what was originally a Lightning Talk PowerPoint slide set. These slides are available to PSGA members to view and download from the [PSGA members area of the OS website](https://auth.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/my.policy)