OpenGIS Web Map Service (WMS) Implementation Specification
1) Overview
2) Downloads
3) Official Schemas
4) Revision Working Group
5) Related News
1) Overview
The OpenGIS® Web Map Service (WMS) Implementation Specification provides three operations (GetCapabilities, GetMap, and GetFeatureInfo) in support of the creation and display of registered and superimposed map-like views of information that come simultaneously from multiple remote and heterogeneous sources.
When client and server software implements WMS, any client can access maps from any server. Any client can combine maps (overlay them like clear acetate sheets) from one or more servers. Any client can query information from a map provided by any server. While programmers need to write code to implement the specifications, end users can take advantage of products that include them to publish and access geospatial information. Software buyers can choose the best solution for their needs and not worry about if it will work with other solutions; if they all implement the same standard, WMS, they will all work together.
In particular WMS defines:
- How to request and provide a map as a picture or set of features (GetMap)
- How to get and provide information about the content of a map such as the value of a feature at a location (GetFeatureInfo)
- How to get and provide information about what types of maps a server can deliver (GetCapabilities)
2) Downloads
Version Document Title (click to download) Document # Type 1.3.0 Web Map Service 03-109r1 D-RP 1.3.0 OpenGIS Web Map Service (WMS) Implementation Specification 06-042 IS Web Map Services - Application Profile for EO Products (0.2.0) 07-063 BP OpenGIS Web Map Services - Application Profile for EO Products (0.1.0) 06-093 D-DP OpenGIS Tiled WMS Discussion Paper (0.3.0) 07-057r2 DP 1.1.1 Web Map Service 01-068r3 D-IS 1.1 Web Map Service 01-047r2 D-IS 1.0 Web Map Service 00-028 D-IS 0.9 WMS - Proposed Animation Service Extension 06-045r1 DP 0.0.3 WMS Part 2: XML for Requests using HTTP Post 02-017r1 DP 0.1.0 WMS Change Request: Support for WSDL & SOAP 04-050r1 DP
3) Official Schemas
http://schemas.opengis.net/wms/
Note: You may also download All Official OGC Schemas in a single zip file.
4) Revision Working Group
This specification is currently stable, however, Revision Working Groups are put in place to actively address future changes.
- The WMS RWG group covering version 1.3.0 has a public page at:
5) Related News