• 520@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    OSM is basically Wikipedia in map form. It uses public domain or donated map data and anyone can contribute.

    It is very much a competitor to Google Maps.

    • MazonnaCara89@lemmy.mlOP
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      1 year ago

      But OSM is not a simple map but a database of data, what you see on their site is only an implementation of what you can do with the data.

      • what_is_a_name@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        All maps are a collection of databases. Points, geometries and so much more. It’s all a database that gets the. Processed into a map UI.

          • what_is_a_name@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Not if you’re using them commercially as an API. I have used various Google Maps APIs on a number of projects. It’s all databases.

            • MazonnaCara89@lemmy.mlOP
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              1 year ago

              That API doesn’t let you do everything tho, only a number of operations like embed Google Maps on their websites or apps, perform geocoding operations, get directions, and more.

              It doesn’t give you direct access to the database!