What are the different data types in OpenStreetMap?

What are the different data types in OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap primarily uses three data types: nodes, ways, and relations. Nodes are points defined by latitude and longitude, ways are ordered lists of nodes that form lines or areas, and relations are used to define relationships between nodes and ways.

Can you give me an example of each data type?

Sure! A node could represent a park bench, a way could represent a road connecting two cities, and a relation could define a bus route that includes multiple ways.

How do these data types interact with each other?

Nodes can be combined to form ways, and ways can be grouped into relations. For example, a bus route relation might include several ways that represent the streets the bus travels.

Are there any other data types I should know about?

In addition to nodes, ways, and relations, OpenStreetMap also supports metadata and tags that provide additional information about these elements.