WFS
Web Feature Service. An OGC standard protocol for serving vector geospatial features over the internet. Unlike WMS which returns images, WFS returns the actual data (geometries and attributes) in formats like GML or GeoJSON, enabling client-side analysis.
Overview
The Web Feature Service (WFS) provides direct access to vector feature data over HTTP, returning actual geometries and attributes rather than rendered images. Where WMS shows you what data looks like, WFS gives you the data itself. Essential for querying, analyzing, and editing geographic features programmatically.
How It Works
GetCapabilities describes available feature types. DescribeFeatureType returns the schema. GetFeature returns matching features as GML or GeoJSON based on spatial and attribute filters. WFS-T (Transactional) adds Insert, Update, Delete, and LockFeature operations for remote editing.
Key Facts
- Returns actual geometry and attributes — the key distinction from WMS.
- WFS-T supports Insert, Update, and Delete for remote database editing.
- GeoServer and MapServer are the most common open-source implementations.
- WFS 2.0 added stored queries and response paging.
- OGC API - Features is the modern RESTful successor.
Applications
Spatial Data Infrastructure
Government agencies serve authoritative datasets as WFS endpoints for machine-to-machine access.
GIS Data Download
Desktop applications connect to WFS to download features for local analysis.
Collaborative Editing
WFS-T enables multiple users to simultaneously edit shared geographic databases.
Limitations & Considerations
GML output is verbose and heavy. Complex queries poorly supported compared to direct database access. WFS-T implementations vary in reliability. No native streaming or caching. Being superseded by OGC API - Features for new implementations.
History & Background
OGC published WFS 1.0.0 in 2002. WFS 2.0 (2010) added paging and stored queries. Mandatory component of INSPIRE. OGC API - Features (2019+) is the modern replacement with JSON-native responses and RESTful patterns.
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