# Introduction to OS APIs

**Ordnance Survey (OS)** **APIs** provide programmatic access to OS data and services. They offer a powerful gateway to rich geospatial data that empowers organisations and developers to integrate mapping information into their applications. You can use OS APIs to display a map, retrieve detailed location information for analysis and more.

OS APIs are grouped into: [**Maps**](#maps), [**Features**](#features), [**Search**](#search) and [**Utility**](#utility).

The documentation on this site will help you to understand and utilise our APIs effectively, enabling you to create tailored solutions. Each API has its own overview page, technical specification, getting started guides and additional content relating to the specific API.

## Benefits of OS APIs

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Reduced overheads</strong></td><td>No need to download, manage, store and serve the data.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Quick access</strong></td><td>Connect directly to data that is ready to use.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Automation</strong></td><td>Automate your workflows by integrating OS APIs.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Regular updates</strong></td><td>No need to update the data yourself; you'll always have the latest view.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Flexibility</strong></td><td>OS APIs can provide efficiencies and help you be more productive.</td></tr></tbody></table>

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## Maps

<table data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th><th data-hidden></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS Maps API</strong></td><td>OS Maps API serves pre-rendered raster tiles in multiple styles to best suit your use case. Maps can be requested using the OGC WMTS standard or RESTful ZXY.</td><td><a href="accessing-os-apis/os-maps-api">os-maps-api</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image of OS Maps API data."><a href="https://4043944746-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FoEzqrBzRGoJw7nQyLj1W%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-817d48681b074ebba48195d74bb8e5381e52826c%2FOSMapsOverview.png?alt=media">OSMapsOverview.png</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>OS Vector Tile API</strong></td><td>OS Vector Tile API offers a vector tile service providing detailed OS MasterMap data as a customisable basemap.</td><td><a href="accessing-os-apis/os-vector-tile-api">os-vector-tile-api</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image of OS Vector Tile API data."><a href="https://4043944746-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FoEzqrBzRGoJw7nQyLj1W%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1169789e27278fc56c6d52282da837e646fcd565%2FVTSOverview.png?alt=media">VTSOverview.png</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>OS NGD API – Tiles</strong></td><td>OS NGD API – Tiles offers a vector tile service powered by the <a data-footnote-ref href="#user-content-fn-1">OS </a>National Geographic Database (OS NGD). It provides a detailed and customisable basemap based on the latest <a href="https://docs.ogc.org/is/20-057/20-057.html">OGC API – Tiles</a>.</td><td><a href="https://app.gitbook.com/s/0pZjHxkAvY7Mn6TqFBMD/getting-started/access-the-os-ngd-api/os-ngd-api-tiles">OS NGD API – Tiles</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image of OS NGD API – Tiles data."><a href="https://4043944746-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FoEzqrBzRGoJw7nQyLj1W%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a3fe463d8cc571bcc19c8247261f74df928169a5%2FOTAOverview.png?alt=media">OTAOverview.png</a></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

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## Features

<table data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS Features API</strong></td><td>The OS Features API allows you to filter Ordnance Survey data and receive exactly what you need, as and when you need it.</td><td><a href="accessing-os-apis/os-features-api">os-features-api</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image of OS Features API data. "><a href="https://4043944746-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FoEzqrBzRGoJw7nQyLj1W%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-88df36f985dc7ebe525a371302522c69bc4d2006%2FWFSOverview.png?alt=media">WFSOverview.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>OS NGD API – Features</strong></td><td>The OS NGD API – Features gives you simple access to the OS National Geographic Database (<a data-footnote-ref href="#user-content-fn-1">OS NGD</a>) allowing you to filter by attribute, location and time to create your own customised data selections.</td><td><a href="https://app.gitbook.com/s/0pZjHxkAvY7Mn6TqFBMD/getting-started/access-the-os-ngd-api/os-ngd-api-features">OS NGD API – Features</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image of OS NGD API – Features data."><a href="https://4043944746-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FoEzqrBzRGoJw7nQyLj1W%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-26cf3437fc31e696ecfb4bbbdb3643d4d154e951%2FOFAOverview.PNG?alt=media">OFAOverview.PNG</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

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## Search

<table data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS Names API</strong></td><td>The OS Names API is a geographic directory containing basic information about identifiable places.</td><td><a href="accessing-os-apis/os-names-api">os-names-api</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image of OS Names API data."><a href="https://4043944746-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FoEzqrBzRGoJw7nQyLj1W%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e8732837a25c1d2031928e0201f66772531be73a%2FNamesOverview.jpg?alt=media">NamesOverview.jpg</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>OS Linked Identifiers API</strong></td><td>The OS Linked Identifiers API allows you to access the valuable relationships between properties, streets and OS MasterMap identifiers for free.</td><td><a href="accessing-os-apis/os-linked-identifiers-api">os-linked-identifiers-api</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image of OS Linked Identifiers API data."><a href="https://4043944746-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FoEzqrBzRGoJw7nQyLj1W%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-343879c9e3fa10655d6a3c5a61f5f2e664b18e10%2FLIDSOverview.png?alt=media">LIDSOverview.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>OS Places API</strong></td><td>The OS Places API allows you to verify the address records you’re capturing against authoritative data from Ordnance Survey’s AddressBase Premium and AddressBase Premium Islands.</td><td><a href="accessing-os-apis/os-places-api">os-places-api</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image of OS Places API data."><a href="https://4043944746-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FoEzqrBzRGoJw7nQyLj1W%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7e424bf29b63c36597bb25287ac88d60755c5352%2FPlacesOverview.png?alt=media">PlacesOverview.png</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

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## Utility

<table data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS Downloads API</strong></td><td>The OS Downloads API allows you to automate the download of OS OpenData and OS Premium datasets</td><td><a href="accessing-os-apis/os-downloads-api">os-downloads-api</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>OAuth2 API</strong></td><td>OAuth2 API provides an authentication mechanism for OS APIs to use time limited tokens for access to resources.</td><td><a href="accessing-os-apis/oauth-2-api">oauth-2-api</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

[^1]: OS National Geographic Database