Type

Acronym

Name

Purpose

Services

WMS

Web Map Service

Provides maps as dynamic images, which may correspond to the superposition of several spatial layers.

CSW

Catalog Service

Allows the publication of metadata and search catalogs.

WFS

Web Feature Service

Provides vector geographical features (geometry and attributes).

WCS

Web Coverage Service

Supports retrieval of geospatial data as “coverages”: information representing space/time-varying phenomena (Raster data, TIN…).

WPS

Web Processing Service

For geoprocessing services.

Formats

SLD

Style Layer Descriptor

Allows users to define symbology and styles for spatial layers (for WMS or WFS data).

GML

Geography Markup Language

Exchange format for vector geographical data.

KML

Keyhole Markup Language

A format for displaying geospatial data.