Glossary of Terms

Not sure what a layer, dashboard, or GeoStory is? This quick glossary breaks down key GeoNode terms to help you get oriented.

Term	Description
📦 Bounding Box	The smallest rectangle (min X, min Y, max X, max Y) that fully contains the spatial extent of a dataset.
📊 Dashboard	A MapStore workspace combining widgets—charts, tables, counters, text, and maps—for interactive data analysis.
🗂️ Dataset	A spatial layer (vector or raster) uploaded to GeoNode. Datasets are served via OGC services (WMS, WFS, WCS) and described with metadata.
📎 Document	Any non-spatial file (e.g., PDF, image, spreadsheet, SLD) uploaded to GeoNode. Can be associated with datasets or projects.
📖 GeoStory	A storytelling tool using MapStore. Combines text, images, and interactive maps into scrollable narratives.
👥 Group	A collection of users with shared permissions. Groups can be granted rights to view, edit, or manage GeoNode resources.
🗺️ Layer	The renderable representation of a dataset in GeoServer. Often used interchangeably with "dataset" in GeoNode.
🧭 Map	A saved composition of one or more layers shown in the Map Viewer. Includes metadata, sharing settings, and embed options.
🖥️ Map Viewer	The interactive interface for building maps: add datasets, configure styles, and save compositions.
🌐 OGC Services	Standards for web-based geospatial services: WMS (maps), WFS (features), WCS (rasters), and CSW (metadata).
🛡️ Permission Levels	Define allowed actions on a resource: View, Download, Edit, and Manage.
📚 Resource	A generic term for any item managed in GeoNode: datasets, maps, documents, dashboards, geostories, etc.
🎨 SLD (Styled Layer Descriptor)	XML format for defining how layers appear. Used by GeoServer and editable from within GeoNode.
🖌️ Style	SLD or CSS rules defining visual properties of layers—colors, symbols, stroke width, fill, opacity, and more.