explaingit

openstreetmap/id

★ 3,789JavaScriptAudience · generalComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

TLDR

iD is the beginner-friendly map editor built into the OpenStreetMap website. It runs in your browser with no install needed, letting you trace roads, outline buildings, and add local details like shop names and points of interest to the free community world map.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((iD Editor))
    Editing Tools
      Trace roads
      Outline buildings
      Add points of interest
      Road type labels
    Technology
      JavaScript
      D3.js rendering
      Browser based
    Browser Support
      Chrome Firefox
      Safari Edge
      Opera
    Community
      Monthly releases
      Slack Discord
      Translations
    Data Sources
      Aerial imagery
      OSM database
      Geographic datasets
    License
      ISC License
      Open source
      Font Awesome icons
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Code map

Detail Auto

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filefunction / class

Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Add your local street, business, or park to the free OpenStreetMap world map directly in your browser

USE CASE 2

Trace roads and buildings from satellite imagery to help fill in missing areas on the map

USE CASE 3

Correct outdated map details like renamed shops, closed roads, or new buildings in your neighbourhood

USE CASE 4

Contribute translations so the map editor can be used by people in different languages

Tech stack

JavaScriptD3.jsFont AwesomeHTMLCSS

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

No installation needed for end users, just visit openstreetmap.org and click Edit. Developers wanting to run a local copy should consult the project wiki getting-started guide.

ISC License, a short permissive open-source license. You can use, copy, modify, and share the code freely with minimal restrictions.

In plain English

iD is the default map editor built into the OpenStreetMap website. OpenStreetMap is a free, community-maintained world map built by volunteers, covering roads, buildings, businesses, trails, and geographic features across the globe. When someone visits the OpenStreetMap website and clicks the Edit button, they are using iD. The editor runs entirely in a web browser, so no software needs to be downloaded or installed. The editor is designed to stay approachable for people new to map editing. It covers the most common tasks, such as tracing roads from aerial imagery, outlining buildings, and adding details like shop names, road types, or points of interest. The README notes it is intentionally limited to avoid the kinds of edits that could accidentally break data left by other contributors. It works across all major desktop browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge. Map data is drawn on screen using D3.js, a JavaScript library for visual data rendering. The README itself is brief and does not walk through individual editing tools in detail, a separate getting-started guide in the project wiki covers building and running a local copy. The community is active, with regular releases roughly once a month. Contributors can join discussions in the OpenStreetMap Slack and Discord servers, and the project accepts translations so the interface can be used in multiple languages. Initial development was funded by the Knight Foundation. The code is released under the ISC License, a short permissive license. The project bundles several open-source components including D3.js, Font Awesome icons, and geographic reference datasets, each under their own respective licenses.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I want to add a new coffee shop to OpenStreetMap using the iD editor. Walk me through each step from opening the editor to saving my change.
Prompt 2
Using the iD map editor on OpenStreetMap, how do I trace a building outline from aerial imagery? Give me step-by-step instructions for a beginner.
Prompt 3
I noticed a road name is wrong on OpenStreetMap. How do I fix it using the iD editor in my browser without breaking anything else?
Prompt 4
How do I set up a local development copy of the iD OpenStreetMap editor so I can test changes before contributing to the project?
Prompt 5
What kinds of map edits should a beginner avoid in iD to prevent accidentally breaking data that other contributors have added?
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