Vector Tiles are deployed on OpenStreetMap.org

42 ikawe 8 7/22/2025, 9:20:16 PM blog.openstreetmap.org ↗

Comments (8)

maelito · 5h ago
In case you wonder how much time / resources it takes to generate vector tiles, I'm running benchmarks with Tilemaker here for https://cartes.app

https://github.com/systemed/tilemaker/issues/839

davidkwast · 15h ago
Nice. I already use Vector Tiles on my backend. But it is nice to have other sources like this.
maxerickson · 15h ago
A feature goal for this deployment was that the tiles would update continuously, keeping up with changes that people are making to the OpenStreetMap database.

Providing that feedback is one of the main purposes of the site.

eulgro · 17h ago
I had no idea what vector tiles were and the page doesn't explain it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_tiles

kurtoid · 16h ago
Here's how I understand it: Previously, OpenStreetMap's tile endpoints would serve pre-rasterized PNG images, so zooming in on a tile could cause it to get blurry, until your client requests a new, zoomed in tile. Now, they can serve tiles in SVG format, which scale better
maelito · 5h ago
> so zooming in on a tile could cause it to get blurry, until your client requests a new, zoomed in tile. Now, they can serve tiles in SVG format, which scale better

They still are blurry, because openstreetmap.org uses a JS library that does not seem to support vector tiles :/

rjh29 · 15h ago
SVG tiles use less data too, and can be recoloured/restyled.
dbetteridge · 15h ago
Basically that + vector tiles can store information about the tile, styles, objects or buildings etc