# Reverse Geocoding
-Reverse geocoding generates an address from a latitude and longitude.
+Reverse geocoding generates an address from a coordinate given as
+latitude and longitude.
## How it works
have a similar enough address to the coordinate you were requesting. For
example, in dense city areas it may belong to a completely different street.
-
-## Parameters
+## Endpoint
The main format of the reverse API is
projection. The API returns exactly one result or an error when the coordinate
is in an area with no OSM data coverage.
-Additional parameters are accepted as listed below.
-!!! warning "Deprecation warning"
+!!! danger "Deprecation warning"
The reverse API used to allow address lookup for a single OSM object by
- its OSM id. This use is now deprecated. Use the [Address Lookup API](Lookup.md)
- instead.
+ its OSM id for `[PHP-only]`. The use is considered deprecated.
+ Use the [Address Lookup API](Lookup.md) instead.
+
+!!! danger "Deprecation warning"
+ The API can also be used with the URL
+ `https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/reverse.php`. This is now deprecated
+ and will be removed in future versions.
+
+
+## Parameters
+
+This section lists additional parameters to further influence the output.
### Output format
-* `format=[xml|json|jsonv2|geojson|geocodejson]`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| format | one of: `xml`, `json`, `jsonv2`, `geojson`, `geocodejson` | `xml` |
+
+See [Place Output Formats](Output.md) for details on each format.
+
-See [Place Output Formats](Output.md) for details on each format. (Default: xml)
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| json_callback | function name | _unset_ |
-* `json_callback=<string>`
+When given, then JSON output will be wrapped in a callback function with
+the given name. See [JSONP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSONP) for more
+information.
-Wrap JSON output in a callback function ([JSONP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSONP)) i.e. `<string>(<json>)`.
Only has an effect for JSON output formats.
+
### Output details
-* `addressdetails=[0|1]`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| addressdetails | 0 or 1 | 1 |
+
+When set to 1, include a breakdown of the address into elements.
+The exact content of the address breakdown depends on the output format.
-Include a breakdown of the address into elements. (Default: 1)
+!!! tip
+ If you are interested in a stable classification of address categories
+ (suburb, city, state, etc), have a look at the `geocodejson` format.
+ All other formats return classifications according to OSM tagging.
+ There is a much larger set of categories and they are not always consistent,
+ which makes them very hard to work with.
-* `extratags=[0|1]`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| extratags | 0 or 1 | 0 |
-Include additional information in the result if available,
-e.g. wikipedia link, opening hours. (Default: 0)
+When set to 1, the response include any additional information in the result
+that is available in the database, e.g. wikipedia link, opening hours.
-* `namedetails=[0|1]`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| namedetails | 0 or 1 | 0 |
-Include a list of alternative names in the results. These may include
-language variants, references, operator and brand. (Default: 0)
+When set to 1, include a full list of names for the result. These may include
+language variants, older names, references and brand.
### Language of results
-* `accept-language=<browser language string>`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| accept-language | browser language string | content of "Accept-Language" HTTP header |
-Preferred language order for showing search results, overrides the value
-specified in the "Accept-Language" HTTP header.
-Either use a standard RFC2616 accept-language string or a simple
-comma-separated list of language codes.
+Preferred language order for showing search results. This may either be
+a simple comma-separated list of language codes or have the same format
+as the ["Accept-Language" HTTP header](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/Accept-Language).
-### Result limitation
+!!! tip
+ First-time users of Nominatim tend to be confused that they get different
+ results when using Nominatim in the browser versus in a command-line tool
+ like wget or curl. The command-line tools
+ usually don't send any Accept-Language header, prompting Nominatim
+ to show results in the local language. Browsers on the contratry always
+ send the currently chosen browser language.
-* `zoom=[0-18]`
-Level of detail required for the address. Default: 18. This is a number that
+### Result restriction
+
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| zoom | 0-18 | 18 |
+
+Level of detail required for the address. This is a number that
corresponds roughly to the zoom level used in XYZ tile sources in frameworks
like Leaflet.js, Openlayers etc.
In terms of address details the zoom levels are as follows:
5 | state
8 | county
10 | city
- 14 | suburb
+ 12 | town / borough
+ 13 | village / suburb
+ 14 | neighbourhood
+ 15 | any settlement
16 | major streets
17 | major and minor streets
18 | building
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| layer | comma-separated list of: `address`, `poi`, `railway`, `natural`, `manmade` | _unset_ (no restriction) |
+
+**`[Python-only]`**
+
+The layer filter allows to select places by themes.
+
+The `address` layer contains all places that make up an address:
+address points with house numbers, streets, inhabited places (suburbs, villages,
+cities, states etc.) and administrative boundaries.
+
+The `poi` layer selects all point of interest. This includes classic points
+of interest like restaurants, shops, hotels but also less obvious features
+like recycling bins, guideposts or benches.
+
+The `railway` layer includes railway infrastructure like tracks.
+Note that in Nominatim's standard configuration, only very few railway
+features are imported into the database.
+
+The `natural` layer collects features like rivers, lakes and mountains while
+the `manmade` layer functions as a catch-all for features not covered by the
+other layers.
+
+
### Polygon output
-* `polygon_geojson=1`
-* `polygon_kml=1`
-* `polygon_svg=1`
-* `polygon_text=1`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| polygon_geojson | 0 or 1 | 0 |
+| polygon_kml | 0 or 1 | 0 |
+| polygon_svg | 0 or 1 | 0 |
+| polygon_text | 0 or 1 | 0 |
-Output geometry of results as a GeoJSON, KML, SVG or WKT. Only one of these
-options can be used at a time. (Default: 0)
+Add the full geometry of the place to the result output. Output formats
+in GeoJSON, KML, SVG or WKT are supported. Only one of these
+options can be used at a time.
-* `polygon_threshold=0.0`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| polygon_threshold | floating-point number | 0.0 |
-Return a simplified version of the output geometry. The parameter is the
+When one of the polygon_* outputs is chosen, return a simplified version
+of the output geometry. The parameter describes the
tolerance in degrees with which the geometry may differ from the original
-geometry. Topology is preserved in the result. (Default: 0.0)
+geometry. Topology is preserved in the geometry.
+
### Other
-* `email=<valid email address>`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| email | valid email address | _unset_ |
-If you are making a large number of requests, please include an appropriate email
-address to identify your requests. See Nominatim's [Usage Policy](https://operations.osmfoundation.org/policies/nominatim/) for more details.
+If you are making large numbers of request please include an appropriate email
+address to identify your requests. See Nominatim's
+[Usage Policy](https://operations.osmfoundation.org/policies/nominatim/) for more details.
-* `debug=[0|1]`
+| Parameter | Value | Default |
+|-----------| ----- | ------- |
+| debug | 0 or 1 | 0 |
Output assorted developer debug information. Data on internals of Nominatim's
-"Search Loop" logic, and SQL queries. The output is (rough) HTML format.
-This overrides the specified machine readable format. (Default: 0)
+"search loop" logic, and SQL queries. The output is HTML format.
+This overrides the specified machine readable format.
## Examples
projects / nominatim.git / blobdiff