Tilezen

Tilezen is an open-source vector tile server and toolkit developed by Mapbox. It is designed to efficiently serve map data in the vector tile format, which is a compact and versatile way to represent geographic information. Vector tiles allow for dynamic styling and interaction with map data directly in the web browser, leading to faster loading times and more visually appealing maps compared to traditional raster tiles.

The Tilezen project includes components for both generating vector tiles from various data sources and serving them over HTTP. It supports a wide range of input formats, including PostGIS, GeoJSON, and shapefiles. The toolkit provides tools for processing and optimizing geographic data for efficient tiling. Tilezen is often used in conjunction with web mapping libraries like Mapbox GL JS or Leaflet to create interactive maps. Its open-source nature allows for customization and integration into diverse mapping workflows. The project aims to provide a scalable and performant solution for delivering vector tile data to web and mobile applications.