# OS Open Names Getting Started Guide
OS Open Names is a geographic directory that contains basic information about identifiable places in Great Britain. The content is divided into themes based on type and local type classification values. The data contains accurate and current settlement names, road names and numbers, postcodes and their locations, additional contextual information and links to other datasets. The primary use of the product is to provide the location of named places to support a wealth of activities, such as discovery, identification, visualisation, geocoding, routing and navigation, and linking of diverse information.
OS Open Names example map showing geographical locations for identifiable places.
This [getting started guide](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/addresses-and-names-portfolio/os-open-names/os-open-names-getting-started-guide) focuses on using the product in comma-separated values (CSV) format.
For general guidance on using the product in GeoPackage format, please see the [Getting started with GeoPackage guide](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/resources/product-resources/getting-started-with-geopackage-and-vector-tiles-guides/getting-started-with-geopackage).
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```
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```
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