WMS output formats¶
WMS returns images in a number of possible formats. This page shows a list of the output formats. The syntax for setting an output format is:
format=<format>
where <format> is any of the options below.
Note
The list of output formats supported by a GeoServer instance can be found by a WMS GetCapabilities request.
| Format | Syntax | Notes |
| PNG | format=image/png |
Default |
| PNG8 | format=image/png8 |
Same as PNG, but computes an optimal 256 color (8 bit) palette, so the image size is usually smaller |
| JPEG | format=image/jpeg |
|
| JPEG-PNG | format=image/vnd.jpeg-png |
A custom format that will decide dynamically, based on the image contents, if it’s best to use a JPEG or PNG compression. The images are returned in JPEG format if fully opaque and not paletted. In order to use this format in a meaningful way the GetMap must include a “&transparent=TRUE” parameter, as without it GeoServer generates opaque images with the default/requested background color, making this format always return JPEG images (or always PNG, if they are paletted). When using the layer preview to test this format, remember to add “&transparent=TRUE” to the preview URL, as normally the preview generates non transparent images. |
| GIF | format=image/gif |
|
| TIFF | format=image/tiff |
|
| TIFF8 | format=image/tiff8 |
Same as TIFF, but computes an optimal 256 color (8 bit) palette, so the image size is usually smaller |
| GeoTIFF | format=image/geotiff |
Same as TIFF, but includes extra GeoTIFF metadata |
| GeoTIFF8 | format=image/geotiff8 |
Same as TIFF, but includes extra GeoTIFF metadata and computes an optimal 256 color (8 bit) palette, so the image size is usually smaller |
| SVG | format=image/svg |
|
format=application/pdf |
||
| GeoRSS | format=rss |
|
| KML | format=kml |
|
| KMZ | format=kmz |
|
| OpenLayers | format=application/openlayers |
Generates an OpenLayers HTML application. |
| UTFGrid | format=application/json;type=utfgrid |
Generates an UTFGrid 1.3 JSON response. Requires vector output, either from a vector layer, or from a raster layer turned into vectors by a rendering transformation. |
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