Our Vector Styles API allows you to create maps in your application or website using client-side rendering.
Client-side rendering means smooth panning and zooming. It also means end-users can rotate and tilt maps. End users also don’t need to download thousands of high-zoom images for offline mapping.
Our Vector Styles API provides a MapLibre Style Specification JSON endpoint for each map, along with the supporting endpoints for fonts and icons. You’ll only need the stylesheet endpoint (see below) and the rest will be loaded automatically.
The URL format for the Vector Styles API is:
https://api.thunderforest.com/styles/{style}/style.json?apikey={apikey}
Here’s our straightforward tutorial on using MapLibre with our Vector Styles API.
You can use other map rendering libraries, not just MapLibre, with our Vector Styles API. Any mapping library that supports the MapLibre Style Specification will work. If your chosen library doesn’t support the spec yet, then we also have our Map Tiles API as an alternative. Please get in touch with any questions!
These are the styles we currently support – more styles will be available in the future. Check back here for the updated list.
This is a new API for us, so your feedback is very welcome!