# OS Features API

Use OS Features API to filter Ordnance Survey data and receive exactly what you need, as and when you need it. Buildings, roads, rivers, hospitals, playing fields, greenspaces – there are many data layers available. There are lots of options for applying spatial filters (for example, Intersects), attribute filters and even combinations. For example, you can select all buildings within a specified area of interest (a polygon feature).

Benefit from current and historical detailed and accurate data to help you generate new location-based insight. OS Features API contains OS MasterMap Topography Layer and much more, and can remove the need to download, store and manage large and complex datasets.

OS Features API gives you direct access to the detailed geometries and rich attribution of individual features. It is based on the [OGC standard Web Feature Service (](https://ogcapi.ogc.org/features/)WFS[^1][)](https://ogcapi.ogc.org/features/) so is interoperable with lots of GIS software and web mapping libraries.

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### OS MasterMap Water Network Layer **End of Life (withdrawal)**

The OS MasterMap Water Network Layer product (also referred to as OS MasterMap Networks – Water Layer) reached its End of Life on 31 March 2026 and was removed from the OS Features API. \
\
Further information on the withdrawal of this product is available on the [OS MasterMap Water Network Layer End of Life documentation page](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/resources/product-resources/end-of-life-product-documentation/os-mastermap-water-network-layer).
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**Associated products reaching their End of Life (withdrawal) date**

* The OS Detailed Path Network product will become End of Life on 30 September 2026. As of this date, access to the product will be removed from the OS Features API.
* The OS MasterMap Greenspace Layer product will become End of Life on 31 March 2027. As of this date, access to the product will be removed from the OS Features API.

Further information on these product withdrawals is available from the [End of Life Product Notices page on the OS Download Products' Documentation site](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/resources/product-resources/end-of-life-product-notices).
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{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Features" %}
**Detailed geospatial data**

Provides online access to detailed OS MasterMap data, including buildings, roads and land.

**Seamless Integration**

Uses the Web Features Service (WFS) standard for interoperability with GIS applications.

**Rich attribution information**

Direct access to detailed attribution to inform decision making.

**Advanced querying**

Allows filtering for specific geographic features – spatially, by attribution or identifier.

**Product Archive**

Allows access to annual snapshots of certain OS MasterMap and Open UPRN data.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Benefits" %}
**On-demand access**

Eliminates the need to download, store and maintain large datasets.

**Up-to-date mapping**

Ensures that users always have access to the most current mapping data.

**Efficient data processing**

Reduce workload by offering direct access to the required data.

**Enhanced decision making**

Provides detailed feature attribution for better and more informed analysis.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Summary" %}

* **Format:** GeoJSON, XML
* **Data Source**: See [what-data-is-available](https://docs.os.uk/os-apis/accessing-os-apis/os-features-api/what-data-is-available "mention") for further information
* **Coverage:** Great Britain
* **Update:** 10 working days from each [product refresh date](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/resources/product-resources/product-refresh-dates)
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

## **Things to remember for OS Features API**

{% hint style="success" %}
You can:

* Request specific feature types and their attributes using spatial or attribute queries.
* Visualise and style OS data.
* Interrogate highly detailed feature information, including OS MasterMap Topography Layer.
* Create and apply your own styling preferences.
* Access annual snapshots of OS historical data.
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You can't:

* Create a scalable map of Great Britain across zoom levels.
* Request more than 100 features in a single transaction.
* Access data for a specific date and time.&#x20;
  {% endhint %}

## What's next?

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th><select><option value="YD7p3u9VB2Bt" label="Labs.os.uk" color="blue"></option></select></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS Product Archive</strong></td><td>Information about the Product Archive in the OS Features API — providing easy access to historical OS data.</td><td></td><td><a href="os-features-api/os-product-archive">os-product-archive</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>What data is available?</strong></td><td>Detailed information about the data that can be accessed through the OS Features API.</td><td></td><td><a href="os-features-api/what-data-is-available">what-data-is-available</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Getting started</strong></td><td>The getting started guide explains how to integrate with the OS Features API in various open GIS software applications.</td><td></td><td><a href="os-features-api/getting-started">getting-started</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Technical specification</strong></td><td>The technical specification explains the content of the OS Features API and the methods you can use to call it.</td><td></td><td><a href="os-features-api/technical-specification">technical-specification</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Code examples</strong></td><td>Code examples you can use to display a map using the OS Vector Tile API.</td><td><span data-option="YD7p3u9VB2Bt">Labs.os.uk</span></td><td><a href="https://labs.os.uk/public/os-data-hub-examples/os-features-api/wfs-example-topo-toid-search#maplibre-gl-js">https://labs.os.uk/public/os-data-hub-examples/os-features-api/wfs-example-topo-toid-search#maplibre-gl-js</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

[^1]: Web Feature Service (WFS) is an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard that allows requests for geographic features across the web using platformindependent calls. You can query features based on spatial and non-spatial constraints.
