# www.openstreetmap.org > official website of the OpenStreetMap project **Wikidata**: [Q110251495](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110251495) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/www-openstreetmap-org ## Summary www.openstreetmap.org is the official website and primary web front end for the OpenStreetMap project. It serves as the main interface for the free editable map of the world, functioning as both a viewing platform and an identity provider. The site is operated by the Operations Working Group under the ownership of the OpenStreetMap Foundation. ## Key Facts - **Official URL:** https://www.openstreetmap.org/ (supports multiple languages) - **Operator:** Operations Working Group - **Owner:** OpenStreetMap Foundation - **Country of Operation:** United Kingdom - **Software License:** GNU General Public License, version 2.0 - **Software Engine:** Runs on the "openstreetmap-website" codebase - **Infrastructure:** Uses Cloudflare for DDoS mitigation (as of July 2024) and is distributed from Equinix Amsterdam - **API Endpoint:** https://api.openstreetmap.org/ (Representational State Transfer architecture) - **Instance Type:** Website, Identity Provider - **Historical Rank:** Held an Alexa rank of 6,938 as of November 28, 2017 ## FAQs ### Q: Who owns and operates www.openstreetmap.org? A: The website is owned by the OpenStreetMap Foundation and is operated by the Operations Working Group. It is legally based in the United Kingdom. ### Q: What is the technical structure of the website? A: The site functions as a web front end and an identity provider. It runs on software licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0, and utilizes an API endpoint at `api.openstreetmap.org` using REST architecture. ### Q: Where is the website hosted? A: The website is distributed from Equinix Amsterdam. It also utilizes Cloudflare services for DDoS mitigation, a measure implemented starting in July 2024. ## Why It Matters As the primary digital gateway to the OpenStreetMap project, www.openstreetmap.org is the central hub for one of the world's largest collaborative mapping initiatives. It plays a critical role not just in displaying map data, but in facilitating the ecosystem around it. By functioning as an identity provider, the site enables authentication for third-party applications and editors that rely on the OpenStreetMap database. The infrastructure supports a massive global user base, necessitating robust security measures like Cloudflare DDoS mitigation and distribution from major internet exchange points like Equinix Amsterdam. This reliability is essential for humanitarian organizations, tech companies, and individual mappers who depend on the platform for up-to-date geographic data. Furthermore, the website embodies the open-source ethos of the project, being powered by the GPL-licensed "openstreetmap-website" software, ensuring that the tools used to build the map are as accessible as the map data itself. ## Notable For - **Official Portal:** It is the definitive online presence for the OpenStreetMap project, distinguishing it from third-party renderers or editors. - **Identity Provider:** Unlike simple static websites, it acts as an authentication hub ("identity provider") for the broader OSM ecosystem. - **Open Source Stack:** The site operates on a transparent software stack (openstreetmap-website) released under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0. - **Infrastructure Scale:** The site utilizes enterprise-grade infrastructure, including DDoS mitigation via Cloudflare and hosting at Equinix Amsterdam, to ensure high availability. - **Multilingual Accessibility:** The interface supports multiple languages, serving a global audience of mappers and users. ## Body ### Technical Infrastructure and Operations The website `www.openstreetmap.org` is maintained by the **Operations Working Group** and owned by the **OpenStreetMap Foundation**. While the Foundation is a global entity, the operational base for the website is listed as the **United Kingdom**. To ensure uptime and performance, the site is **distributed from Equinix Amsterdam**, a major network hub. As of **July 2024**, the site employs **Cloudflare** specifically for **DDoS mitigation** to protect against cyber threats. This setup allows the platform to handle significant traffic, a necessity given its status as the entry point for a top-ranked global website (historically ranked **6,938** on Alexa in late 2017). ### Software and API The platform is driven by a software engine identified as **openstreetmap-website**. The codebase is open-source, released under the **GNU General Public License, version 2.0**. Detailed documentation for the software is available via its GitHub repository and the OpenStreetMap Wiki. The site provides a public **API endpoint** at `https://api.openstreetmap.org/`. This API follows the **Representational State Transfer (REST)** architecture and is documented specifically as **API v0.6** on the OpenStreetMap Wiki. ### Content and Localization The primary subject of the website is **OpenStreetMap**. The interface is designed for a global user base, offering support in **multiple languages**. Documentation describing the web front end is maintained in English, Spanish (`ES:Interfaz web`), and Japanese (`JA:ウェブフロントエンド`), among others. The website serves as the central hub for the project, distinct from the "openstreetmap-website" software that powers it, and is often referred to by aliases such as **osm.org**, **OpenStreetMap website**, or **www.osm.org**. ## References 1. [Source](https://github.com/openstreetmap/chef/blob/e20b868e6aea1269143914bd6d6e121059ae5480/cookbooks/web/README.md) 2. [Alexa Internet](https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/openstreetmap.org) 3. [Source](https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/cloudflare-is-problematic-for-tor-users-and-privacy/116645) 4. [Source](https://hardware.openstreetmap.org/#equinix-amsterdam)