What this book covers

Chapter 1, Creating Simple Maps with OpenLayers 3, guides you through the process of creating a simple map with the library. It also discusses some key concepts of OpenLayers 3, an effective way of using the API documentation, and a method to debug broken code.

Chapter 2, Applying Custom Styles, shows you how you can use CSS and JavaScript to customize the appearance of your application. It discusses which parts of the library can be styled with CSS and those that can be styled with JavaScript. It provides some methods for you to use to create a custom style.

Chapter 3, Working with Layers, introduces you to layer management. In this chapter, you will learn how to modify the layer stack, what the most common and useful operations you can perform with layers, and essentially, how to build a complete layer tree.

Chapter 4, Using Vector Data, shows you various vector formats and operations. You will learn a lot about geospatial features. You will read, write, modify, and style vector layers, attributes, and geometries.

Chapter 5, Creating Responsive Applications with Interactions and Controls, guides you through the various controls in OpenLayers 3. You will learn how to use the available controls effectively and build your very own.

Chapter 6, Controlling the Map – View and Projection, discusses some essential views and projection-based concepts. You will learn how to modify the view, use extents dynamically, and use custom projections.

Chapter 7, Mastering the Renderers, is a bit of a specialized chapter. You will take a look at how rendering works in OpenLayers 3 and how you can modify these rendering mechanisms. There will be some examples using Canvas and the WebGL HTML technologies, ranging from novice to expert skill levels.

Chapter 8, OpenLayers 3 for Mobile, shows you how to create responsive applications for desktop and mobile browsers at the same time. You will be able to make some mobile-based considerations and create a mobile-friendly OpenLayers 3 application by the end of this chapter.

Chapter 9, Tools of the Trade – Integrating Third-Party Applications, introduces some other tools into your workflow, making the development of your application more efficient and enjoyable. You will get some tips about some very useful third-party applications and libraries, which can be easily integrated with OpenLayers 3.

Chapter 10, Compiling Custom Builds with Closure, shows you how to build your own version of OpenLayers 3. Along with the custom building process, you will learn how to bundle your own application with the library and generate a custom API documentation automatically.