What are tags in OpenStreetMap?

On OpenStreetMap, volunteers continuously map what they find relevant. Tags are the system that captures detail — from streets to drinking fountains.

What are tags?

Tags are key/value labels for map objects. A residential street might be highway=residential; a park might include name=city park or amenity=bench.

Who defines the tags?

The OSM community. There are widely used standards documented on the OSM wiki, but new tags appear as needs evolve — flexible, sometimes messy.

Why so many tags?

OSM describes a huge variety of objects in detail. Cycleways alone may include type, surface, and access rights.

Advantages & disadvantages

Pros: flexibility, local detail, continuous community improvement.
Cons: complexity for newcomers, inconsistency across regions, occasional debate.

Summary

Tags are the heart of OpenStreetMap — the open labeling system that makes the map rich, individual, and globally useful.