Chapter 1. Creating Simple Maps with OpenLayers 3

OpenLayers 3 is the most robust open source web mapping library out there, highly capable of handling the client side of a WebGIS environment. Whether you know how to use OpenLayers 3 or you are new to it, this chapter will help you to create a simple map and either refresh some concepts or get introduced to them. As this is a mastering book, we will mainly discuss the library's structure and capabilities in depth. In this chapter we will create a simple map with the library, and revise the basic terms related to it.

In this chapter we will cover the following topics:

• Structure of OpenLayers 3
• Architectural considerations
• Creating a simple map
• Using the API documentation effectively
• Debugging the code