Content Sources

MGLSource is an abstract base class for map content sources. A map content source supplies content to be shown on the map. A source is added to an MGLStyle object along with an MGLForegroundStyleLayer object. The foreground style layer defines the appearance of any content supplied by the source.

Each source defined by the style JSON file is represented at runtime by an MGLSource object that you can use to refine the map’s content. You can also add and remove sources dynamically using methods such as -[MGLStyle addSource:] and -[MGLStyle sourceWithIdentifier:].

Create instances of MGLShapeSource, MGLComputedShapeSource, MGLImageSource, and the concrete subclasses of MGLTileSource (MGLVectorTileSource and MGLRasterTileSource) in order to use MGLSource’s properties and methods. Do not create instances of MGLSource directly, and do not create your own subclasses of this class.

MGLShapeSource is a map content source that supplies vector shapes to be shown on the map. The shapes may be instances of MGLShape or MGLFeature, or they may be defined by local or external GeoJSON code. A shape source is added to an MGLStyle object along with an MGLVectorStyleLayer object. The vector style layer defines the appearance of any content supplied by the shape source. You can update a shape source by setting its shape or URL property.

MGLShapeSource is optimized for data sets that change dynamically and fit completely in memory. For large data sets that do not fit completely in memory, use the MGLComputedShapeSource or MGLVectorTileSource class.

Each geojson source defined by the style JSON file is represented at runtime by an MGLShapeSource object that you can use to refine the map’s content and initialize new style layers. You can also add and remove sources dynamically using methods such as -[MGLStyle addSource:] and -[MGLStyle sourceWithIdentifier:].

Any vector style layer initialized with a shape source should have a nil value in its sourceLayerIdentifier property.

Example

var coordinates: [CLLocationCoordinate2D] = [
    CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: 37.77, longitude: -122.42),
    CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: 38.91, longitude: -77.04),
]
let polyline = MGLPolylineFeature(coordinates: &coordinates, count: UInt(coordinates.count))
let source = MGLShapeSource(identifier: "lines", features: [polyline], options: nil)
mapView.style?.addSource(source)

Related examples

See the Cluster point data, Use images to cluster point data, and Add live data examples to learn how to add data to your map using this MGLSource object.

MGLComputedShapeSource is a map content source that supplies vector shapes, one tile at a time, to be shown on the map on demand. You implement a class conforming to the MGLComputedShapeSourceDataSource protocol that returns instances of MGLShape or MGLFeature, then add a computed shape source to an MGLStyle object along with an MGLVectorStyleLayer object. The vector style layer defines the appearance of any content supplied by the computed shape source.

MGLComputedShapeSource is similar to MGLShapeSource but is optimized for data sets that change dynamically or are too large to fit completely in memory. It is also useful for data that is divided into tiles in a format other than Mapbox Vector Tiles. For GeoJSON data, use the MGLShapeSource class. For static tiles or Mapbox Vector Tiles, use the MGLVectorTileSource class.

You can add and remove sources dynamically using methods such as -[MGLStyle addSource:] and -[MGLStyle sourceWithIdentifier:]. This class cannot be represented in a style JSON file; you must add it ot the style at runtime.

MGLTileSource is a map content source that supplies map tiles to be shown on the map. The location of and metadata about the tiles are defined either by an option dictionary or by an external file that conforms to the TileJSON specification. A tile source is added to an MGLStyle object along with one or more MGLRasterStyleLayer or MGLVectorStyleLayer objects. Use a style layer to control the appearance of content supplied by the tile source.

A tile source is also known as a tile set. To learn about the structure of a Mapbox-hosted tile set, view it in Mapbox Studio’s Tilesets editor.

Create instances of MGLRasterTileSource and MGLVectorTileSource in order to use MGLTileSource‘s properties and methods. Do not create instances of MGLTileSource directly, and do not create your own subclasses of this class.

MGLRasterTileSource is a map content source that supplies raster image tiles to be shown on the map. The location of and metadata about the tiles are defined either by an option dictionary or by an external file that conforms to the TileJSON specification. A raster tile source is added to an MGLStyle object along with one or more MGLRasterStyleLayer objects. Use a raster style layer to control the appearance of content supplied by the raster tile source.

Each raster source defined by the style JSON file is represented at runtime by an MGLRasterTileSource object that you can use to initialize new style layers. You can also add and remove sources dynamically using methods such as -[MGLStyle addSource:] and -[MGLStyle sourceWithIdentifier:].

Example

let source = MGLRasterTileSource(identifier: "clouds", tileURLTemplates: ["https://example.com/raster-tiles/{z}/{x}/{y}.png"], options: [
    .minimumZoomLevel: 9,
    .maximumZoomLevel: 16,
    .tileSize: 512,
    .attributionInfos: [
        MGLAttributionInfo(title: NSAttributedString(string: "© Mapbox"), url: URL(string: "https://mapbox.com"))
    ]
])
mapView.style?.addSource(source)

Related examples

See the Add raster imagery example to learn how to add a MGLRasterStyleLayer to your map using an MGLRasterTileSource.

MGLRasterDEMSource is a map content source that supplies rasterized digital elevation model (DEM) tiles to be shown on the map. The location of and metadata about the tiles are defined either by an option dictionary or by an external file that conforms to the TileJSON specification. A raster DEM source is added to an MGLStyle object along with one or more MGLHillshadeStyleLayer objects. Use a hillshade style layer to control the appearance of content supplied by the raster DEM source.

Each raster-dem source defined by the style JSON file is represented at runtime by an MGLRasterDEMSource object that you can use to initialize new style layers. You can also add and remove sources dynamically using methods such as -[MGLStyle addSource:] and -[MGLStyle sourceWithIdentifier:].

Currently, raster DEM sources only support the format used by Mapbox Terrain-RGB.

Example

let terrainRGBURL = URL(string: "mapbox://mapbox.terrain-rgb")!
let source = MGLRasterDEMSource(identifier: "hills", configurationURL: terrainRGBURL)
mapView.style?.addSource(source)

MGLVectorTileSource is a map content source that supplies tiled vector data in Mapbox Vector Tile format to be shown on the map. The location of and metadata about the tiles are defined either by an option dictionary or by an external file that conforms to the TileJSON specification. A vector tile source is added to an MGLStyle object along with one or more MGLVectorStyleLayer objects. A vector style layer defines the appearance of any content supplied by the vector tile source.

MGLVectorTileSource is optimized for data sets that are too large to fit completely in memory, such as vector tile sets or data sets managed in Mapbox Studio. For GeoJSON data, use the MGLShapeSource class. For tiled data that changes dynamically, the MGLComputedShapeSource class may be a suitable alternative.

Each vector source defined by the style JSON file is represented at runtime by an MGLVectorTileSource object that you can use to initialize new style layers. You can also add and remove sources dynamically using methods such as -[MGLStyle addSource:] and -[MGLStyle sourceWithIdentifier:].

Within each vector tile, each geometric coordinate must lie between −1 × extent and (extent × 2) − 1, inclusive. Any vector style layer initialized with a vector tile source must have a non-nil value in its sourceLayerIdentifier property.

Commonly used vector tile sources include Mapbox Streets, Mapbox Terrain, and Mapbox Traffic.

Example

let source = MGLVectorTileSource(identifier: "pois", tileURLTemplates: ["https://example.com/vector-tiles/{z}/{x}/{y}.mvt"], options: [
    .minimumZoomLevel: 9,
    .maximumZoomLevel: 16,
    .attributionInfos: [
        MGLAttributionInfo(title: NSAttributedString(string: "© Mapbox"), url: URL(string: "https://mapbox.com"))
    ]
])
mapView.style?.addSource(source)

Related examples

See the Data-driven circles example to learn how to add data to your map using an MGLVectorTileSource object.

MGLImageSource is a content source that is used for a georeferenced raster image to be shown on the map. The georeferenced image scales and rotates as the user zooms and rotates the map. Images may also be used as icons or patterns in a style layer. To register an image for use as an icon or pattern, use the -[MGLStyle setImage:forName:] method. To configure a point annotation’s image, use the MGLAnnotationImage class.

The geographic location of the raster image content, supplied with MGLCoordinateQuad, can be non-axis aligned. MGLImageSource supports raster content from NSURL, NSImage (macOS), or UIImage (iOS). An image source is added to an MGLStyle object along with one or more MGLRasterStyleLayer objects. Use a raster style layer to control the appearance of content supplied by the image source.

Each image source defined by the style JSON file is represented at runtime by an MGLImageSource object that you can use to initialize new style layers. You can also add and remove sources dynamically using methods such as -[MGLStyle addSource:] and -[MGLStyle sourceWithIdentifier:].

Example

let coordinates = MGLCoordinateQuad(
  topLeft: CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: 46.437, longitude: -80.425),
  bottomLeft: CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: 37.936, longitude: -80.425),
  bottomRight: CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: 37.936, longitude: -71.516),
  topRight: CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: 46.437, longitude: -71.516))
let source = MGLImageSource(identifier: "radar", coordinateQuad: coordinates, url: URL(string: "https://www.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/assets/radar.gif")!)
mapView.style?.addSource(source)

Related examples

See the Add an image example to learn how to add an image to your map using MGLImageSource.