3 Terminology

Terminology used within this specification.

Term	Description
API	Application Programming Interface: a set of rules and tools allowing applications to communicate with each other.
Client	Client is a software component that can invoke an operation from a server.
Coordinate	A coordinate is a sequence of n numbers designating the position of a point in n-dimensional space.
Coordinate system	A set of mathematical rules for specifying how coordinates are to be assigned to points.
Coordinate reference system	A coordinate system that is related to an object by a datum.
CSW	Catalogue Service for the Web: A standard for discovering and searching metadata about.
Endpoints	Specific routes or URIs in APIs where specific functions can be accessed.
Geocoding	The process of converting an address or place name into geographic coordinates.
Geographic feature	Geographic features are real-world phenomena associated with a location relative to the Earth, about which data are collected, maintained, and disseminated. Feature catalogues defining the types of features, their operations, attributes, and associations represented in geographic data are indispensable to turning the data into usable information. Such feature catalogues promote the dissemination, sharing, and use of geographic data through providing a better understanding of the content and meaning of the data. (ISO 19110).
GeoJSON	A format for encoding a variety of geographic data structures, often used with RESTful APIs.
Geoportal	A web portal used to access geographic information and related services.
Global positioning system (GPS)	A satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information.
GIS	Geographic Information System: A system for visualizing, managing, and analyzing geospatial data.
GIS Service Area	The geographic area that can be reached within a specified time or distance from a given location.
GovStack	A reference digital platform architecture that offers a set of reusable digital building blocks for governments.
Interface	Interface is a named set of operations that characterize the behavior of an entity.
Layer	A collection of geospatial data that is displayed on a map, typically represent one feature type such as points, lines, polygons, and rasters, corresponding to a specific theme (parcels, street addresses, roads).
Interoperability	The ability of systems and products to work together.
Metadata	Data about data; describes attributes like content, quality, and origin.
Operation	An operation specifies a transformation or query that an object may be called to execute.
Server and service	Server is a particular instance of a service. A service is distinct part of the functionality that is provided by an entity through interfaces.
Service metadata	Service metadata describes the operations and geographic information available at a server.
Spatial Analysis	The process of examining geographic data to identify patterns, relationships, and trends.
Remote Sensing	The process of collecting data about the environment from a distance, typically using satellites or aircraft.
Request	A request is an invocation of an operation by a client
Response	A response is a result of an operation returned from a server to a client.
RESTful API	An architectural style for APIs using HTTP requests to access resources.
SDI	Spatial Data Infrastructure: A framework that promotes standards for using, sharing, and
SOA	Service-Oriented Architecture: A design that provides services to other components via a communications protocol.
SOAP	Simple Object Access Protocol: A protocol for exchanging structured information in web services.
Spatial Analysis	Techniques to analyze geospatial data and extract information.
Swagger/OpenAPI	A specification for building APIs, often used for documentation and design.
Topology	The study of geometric properties and spatial relations.
WFS	Web Feature Service: An OGC standard allowing users to access and edit geospatial data.
WMS	Web Mapping Service: An OGC standard for serving georeferenced map images.
WMTS	Web Map Tile Service: Standard from OGC for serving pre-rendered or runtime-computed geospatial tiles.