Reference | Vector tiles - Docs Mapbox

Vector tiles make huge maps fast while offering full design flexibility. The vector tile format is the vector data equivalent of raster image tiles for web ... Youareusinganoutdatedbrowserandwillencountersomeproblemswithourwebsite.Pleaseconsiderupgrading.UpgradeNowVectortilesSearchReferenceSpecificationAlldocsVectortilesReferenceVectortilesAbroadcollectionofnatural,built,andplacedataGlobalelevationdataConstantlyupdatingtrafficdataOpenstandardOnthispageHowwebmapsworkBenefitsofvectortilesOpenstandardShareyourfeedbackVectortilesmakehugemapsfastwhileofferingfulldesignflexibility.Thevectortileformatisthevectordataequivalentofrasterimagetilesforwebmapping,withthestrengthsoftiling:optimizedforcaching,scaling,andservingmapimageryrapidly.TheMapbox-ownedvectortilesetsdescribedinthisdocumentationarefreelyavailablefordeveloperstouseasdatasources.Mapbox-maintainedstylesusethesetilesetsasdatasources.Thesevectortilereferencedocumentsincludeinformationtohelpyoustylethedatafromeachtileset.Youcanrefertothesedocumentstofindinformationaboutlayers,datafields,datasources,andmore.HowwebmapsworkTraditionally,mapsarecreatedfromimagetiles.LikeforinstancethisPNGimagetiledepictingthecorneroflowerManhattanwithroads,buildingfootprints,andparks:Togettheunderlyingvectortiledatathatmakesupthisimage,youcanrequestitspecifically:http://a.tiles.mapbox.com/v4/mapbox.mapbox-streets-v8/14/4823/6160.mvt?access_token=YOUR_MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN Asthenamesuggests,vectortilescontainvectordatainsteadoftherenderedimage.Theycontaingeometriesandmetadata—likeroadnames,placenames,housenumbers—inacompact,structuredformat.Vectortilesarerenderedonlywhenrequestedbyaclient,likeawebbrowseroramobileapp.Renderinghappenseitherintheclient(MapboxGLJS,MapboxiOSSDK,MapboxAndroidSDK)ordynamicallyontheserver(mapAPI).ReadtheMapboxVectorTileSpecificationtolearnmore.BenefitsofvectortilesVectortileshavetwoimportantadvantagesoverfullyrenderedimagetiles:Styling:asvectors,tilescanbestyledwhenrequested,allowingformanymapstylesonglobaldataSize:vectortilesarereallysmall,enablingglobalhighresolutionmaps,fastmaploads,andefficientcachingMapboxStreets,ourglobalbasemap,isentirelymadeofvectortiles.AnymapdatayouuploadwithMapboxStudioisconvertedintovectortilesbeforestyling.OpenstandardVectortilesareanopenstandardunderaCreativeCommonsAttribution3.0USLicense.Wesupportvectortilesacrossourproductsandthereisalargelistofvectortileimplementationbyothervendors.ReadtheMapboxVectorTileSpeconGitHubandgetintouchwithustherewithfeedbackandimprovements.Shareyourfeedback