Access Token
A unique identifier used to authenticate requests to Mapbox services. Required for using Mapbox GL JS and accessing Mapbox-hosted resources.
Allmaps
A platform for georeferencing and sharing historical maps as web map overlays, often providing XYZ tile endpoints for use in web maps.
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of rules and tools that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. Mapbox provides APIs for map styles and data.
Base Map / Base Layer
The foundational map layer providing geographic context (such as streets, terrain, or satellite imagery) over which additional data layers are displayed.
Boilerplate
A reusable chunk of code that serves as a starting template for new projects, ensuring consistency and saving setup time.
Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG)
A format for storing geospatial raster data optimized for cloud-based access and efficient streaming.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
A language used to describe the presentation and layout of HTML elements on a web page.
Data Overlay
Additional data (such as points, lines, polygons, or raster images) displayed on top of a base map to provide more information.
Event Listener
A JavaScript function that waits for and responds to user interactions, such as clicks or slider movements.
GeoJSON
A widely used format for encoding geographic data structures (points, lines, polygons) in JSON.
GDAL (Geospatial Data Abstraction Library)
An open-source toolkit for processing and converting geospatial raster and vector data.
Git
A version control system for tracking changes in files and coordinating work among multiple people.
GitHub
A web-based platform for hosting code repositories and collaborating on software development projects using Git.
GitHub Pages
A GitHub feature that allows users to publish static websites directly from a repository.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
The standard language for creating web pages and web applications.
JavaScript
A programming language used to add interactivity and dynamic behavior to web pages.
Live Server
A VS Code extension that launches a local development server with live reload capability for web development.
Local Development Environment (LDE)
The setup of tools and software (such as VS Code, browser, and local server) used to develop and test code on your own computer.
Mapbox GL JS
A JavaScript library for interactive, customizable vector maps on the web.
Map Tile / Tile Server
A small, square image (usually 256x256 pixels) representing a portion of a map at a specific zoom level, served by a tile server.
Popup
A small window or tooltip that appears on a map to display information about a feature when clicked or hovered.
Raster
A grid of pixels (such as an image or scanned map) used as a map layer.
Slider (Transparency/Opacity Slider)
A user interface control that allows users to adjust the transparency of a map layer.
Style (Mapbox Style)
A JSON document that defines the visual appearance of a map, including colors, fonts, and which layers are shown.
Tile / XYZ Tile
A map image served at a specific zoom level and x/y coordinate, following the XYZ tiling scheme.
Vector Tile
A tile format that encodes geographic features as vector data (points, lines, polygons) rather than raster images, allowing for dynamic styling.
VS Code (Visual Studio Code)
A free, extensible code editor from Microsoft, commonly used for web development.
Web Map
An interactive digital map designed for use in web browsers, supporting features like zooming, panning, and data overlays.
Web Map Service (WMS)
A standard protocol for serving georeferenced map images over the internet.