GeoServer

GeoServer is an open‑source server for sharing geospatial data. It is developed by the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) and is designed to publish data from major geospatial databases and file formats using open standards. Written in Java, GeoServer runs on platforms that support a compatible Java runtime and can be deployed in common servlet containers.

GeoServer emphasizes interoperability by implementing key OGC standards such as Web Map Service (WMS), Web Feature Service (WFS), and Web Coverage Service (WCS). It enables map rendering, feature access, and raster data serving over HTTP. Styling is supported through the Styled Layer Descriptor (SLD) standard and CSS-like styling, allowing flexible symbolization and labeling. Data sources can include PostGIS, Oracle Spatial, MySQL, SQL Server, SpatiaLite, and various file formats such as Shapefiles and GeoTIFF. For performance, GeoServer can integrate GeoWebCache to deliver tiled map layers.

The architecture comprises a Java-based web application that runs inside a servlet container such as Apache Tomcat or Jetty. It leverages the GeoTools library for data access and processing and provides a web-based administration interface for configuring data stores, layers, styles, and security. The system supports multiple data stores, on-demand styling, and user access controls, making it suitable for organization-wide geospatial data publication.

GeoServer is widely used by government agencies, research institutions, and private organizations to publish and share geospatial data over the web. It is a cornerstone of the open-geospatial ecosystem, enabling interoperable access to maps and features across diverse clients and platforms.