# AddressBase Documentation

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**Product nearing its End of Life (withdrawal) date**

The AddressBase product will become End of Life on 29 November 2027. As of this date, Ordnance Survey will cease to maintain or publish updates to the product.

Further information and details about the recommended product migration pathway are available on the [End of Life Notice – AddressBase page](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/resources/product-resources/end-of-life-product-notices/end-of-life-notice-addressbase).
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AddressBase provides a current view of all Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) addresses that have been matched to the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) and One Scotland Gazetteer (OSG). The product provides Royal Mail attribution as well as enhancing the Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) data with X and Y coordinates on the British National Grid and ETRS89 coordinate reference system and providing the classification of an address to a primary level. It also provides a primary level classification.

This product will provide you with a single view of an address, allow you to locate this address on a map to give you a geographic view and carry out primary analysis on the function of the address to determine, for example, residential from commercial properties.

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**This product is updated every six weeks.**
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<figure><img src="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2Fv6d7HI4KlOxnpH7ABzLK%2FAddressBase7%201.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d9196f0a-1d42-4715-9fee-268bf6ca3e33" alt="Representation of AddressBase data showing address data as red dots against a background map"><figcaption><p>Representation of AddressBase data.</p></figcaption></figure>

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Please see the [AddressBase Getting Started Guide](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/addresses-and-names-portfolio/addressbase/addressbase-getting-started-guide) for instructions on how to load and work with AddressBase data; this is a composite guide for [AddressBase](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/addresses-and-names-portfolio/addressbase), [AddressBase Plus](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/addresses-and-names-portfolio/addressbase-plus) and [AddressBase Plus Islands](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/addresses-and-names-portfolio/addressbase-plus-islands).
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{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Benefits" %}
**Precision identification**

Identify a property and locate it on a map with precision – using the X and Y coordinates we’ve assigned to the Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) data.

**Understand the nation with PAF**

Every address geo data record provides Royal Mail address information from PAF, the Unique Delivery Point Reference Number (UDPRN) and X and Y coordinates.

**Track customer data**

Using the basic classifications in AddressBase you can quickly filter between residential and commercial addresses, which is ideal for marketing purposes.

**Reduce marketing costs**

Our basic classifications – residential or commercial – will reduce the costs and increase the effectiveness of your direct marketing.

**Confidence in data**

In customer services, the need for accuracy is paramount. Have confidence in your front-line staff’s ability to look up addresses on a database of millions, quickly and efficiently.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Use Cases" %}
**Reduce marketing costs**

Our basic classifications – residential or commercial – will reduce the costs and increase the effectiveness of your direct marketing.

**Confidence in data**

In customer services, the need for accuracy is paramount. Have confidence in your front-line staff’s ability to look up addresses on a database of millions, quickly and efficiently.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Summary" %}

* **Access:** Download via the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/) via the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/)
* **Data theme:** Address
* **Data structure:** Vector – Points
* **Coverage**: Great Britain
* **Scale**: 1:1 250 to 1: 10 000
* **Format:** CSV, GML 3.2.1
* **Ordering area:** All of Great Britain or customisable area (5km² tiles or user-defined polygon)
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Additional Information" %}
**House to flat conversions**

To find out details such as houses that have been converted to flats, you'll need AddressBase Plus. it includes current properties and addresses sourced from local authorities, Ordnance Survey and Royal Mail. These are all matched to the UPRN and structured in a flat-file model.

AddressBase Plus has more records than AddressBase as it includes objects without postal addresses such as places of worship and community centres – as well as sub-divided properties. It lets you locate an address or property on a map, through the assigned X and Y coordinates.

Crucially, the cross-referencing information with OS MasterMap products via Topographic Identifiers (TOIDs) means you can view address data within a wider context.

**Paying Royal Mail royalties as a commercial customer**

Royal Mail royalties are included in the licence fee. A separate Royal Mail royalty fee applies if you license the AddressBase data on External Transaction Solution (ETS) terms.

**File size**

If the file size of your order is smaller than 2Gb, you can get it from our FTP server. in addition, public sector customers can download 5km chunk orders via our download service.

**Data from Royal Mail’s PAF**

The database is a vital component of the single address gazetteer database and is in each of the AddressBase products where there has been a match confirming the address to the LLPG address.
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## How to get this product

Access to this product is free for PSGA (Public Sector Geospatial Agreement) Members. You can [check if your organisation is a member of the PSGA on the OS website](https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/customers/public-sector/psga-member-finder).

AddressBase will reach its [end of life](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/resources/product-resources/end-of-life-product-notices/end-of-life-notice-addressbase) in Autumn 2027. Until then you can access the data via the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/).

## Sample data

### Download AddressBase sample data <a href="#download-os-egs-sample-data" id="download-os-egs-sample-data"></a>

You can download sample data for the product for free from the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/data/downloads/sample/AddressBase). The sample data are available in CSV format and cover one area (Exeter).

### Visualise AddressBase sample data online

This product is available to try out free online using one of our three sets of sample data (Exeter, Newport and Inverness) through the OS MasterMap Product Viewer:

<table data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS MasterMap Product Viewer</strong></td><td>Interactive demonstrator of OS MasterMap Generation data</td><td></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing OS VectorMap Local product data over an urban area."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2Fuld7V42IKrB8ovpC1JXB%2FVectorMap-Local-1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cb3e8ae9-d669-4bc9-b7a7-5f479d780447">VectorMap-Local-1.png</a></td><td><a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/20981dabcb14402687dccb437a4a78fb/">https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/20981dabcb14402687dccb437a4a78fb/</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Other ways to access this data

AddressBase will reach its [end of life](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/resources/product-resources/end-of-life-product-notices/end-of-life-notice-addressbase) in November 2027. We recommend that customers migrate to the [OS NGD Address Theme](https://docs.os.uk/osngd/data-structure/address) as its new Royal Mail Address Feature Type is a direct replacement for AddressBase. The feature type contains data that enables you to access Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) content, alongside Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) and limited additional attribution, similar to the information contained within AddressBase. Benefits to using OS NGD's Royal Mail Address Feature Type data over AddressBase data are listed on the [AddressBase End of Life notification](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/resources/product-resources/end-of-life-product-notices/end-of-life-notice-addressbase#what-are-the-benefits-to-using-os-ngds-royal-mail-address-feature-type-data).

## What's next?

To access documentation and resources relating to this product, please refer to the following:

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><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><h4>AddressBase Lightning Talk</h4></td><td>A helpful introductory article hosted on our More than Maps platform providing additional information and context about using AddressBase data.</td><td></td><td><a href="https://docs.os.uk/more-than-maps/data-demonstrators/addressing-and-location-demonstrators/addressbase">https://docs.os.uk/more-than-maps/data-demonstrators/addressing-and-location-demonstrators/addressbase</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Graphic showing the names of four of the addressing products: AddressBase, AddressBase Core, AddressBase Plus and AddressBase Premium."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FiyLIwRiwKL0YihGRCzgV%2Fimage%20(1).png?alt=media&#x26;token=63fd88cb-975e-487d-ab00-9b82dc396965">image (1).png</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>AddressBase Fundamentals</h4></td><td>The AddressBase Fundamentals pages provide an overview of the 'family' of AddressBase products, covering key elements of design for AddressBase products.</td><td></td><td><a href="addressbase-fundamentals">addressbase-fundamentals</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing AddressBase product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2F5Ndx4lWXSbXYqfiVzXn4%2FAddressBase-1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=df659059-f5af-47d4-b89d-a1548bba79f6">AddressBase-1.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Getting Started Guide</h4></td><td>The getting started guide provides instructions for using three AddressBase products in different software applications. Users with limited technical knowledge will be able to follow this guide.</td><td></td><td><a href="addressbase/addressbase-getting-started-guide">addressbase-getting-started-guide</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing AddressBase product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FioExoMKQ4UfJZoOmF6OD%2FAddressBase-2.png?alt=media&#x26;token=67b59085-8fa2-49f9-9f8a-bec3c1938819">AddressBase-2.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Technical Specification</h4></td><td>The technical specification provides detailed technical information about AddressBase. It is targeted at technical users and software developers.</td><td></td><td><a href="addressbase/addressbase-technical-specification">addressbase-technical-specification</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing AddressBase product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2FixjfpHyNW9VPyMzZ7grr%2FAddressBase-4.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e23c78b1-4c50-4df2-833d-d6d88d6529b8">AddressBase-4.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><h4>Downloads</h4></td><td>The downloads page provides links and resources to support the application of AddressBase within your environment.</td><td></td><td><a href="addressbase/addressbase-downloads">addressbase-downloads</a></td><td data-object-fit="cover" data-alt="Example image showing AddressBase product data over a background map."><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2Flb7OjBp8baXFnltljh6I%2FAddressBase-3.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fcf0a5f6-3e3d-4f03-9484-e8fee7b4c02f">AddressBase-3.png</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

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New users should start with the Fundamentals pages to gain high-level insight into AddressBase products. The Getting Started Guide will help you to begin using product data in different software systems. The Technical Specification contains detailed technical insights.
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