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MBTiles vs MVT: tilesets and tile encoding
MBTiles is a tileset in SQLite; MVT encodes vector tiles. They occupy different layers and can be used together.
Which format should you choose?
Consider MBTiles for offline tileset delivery and MVT when handling individual vector tile content or serving.
Good fit for MBTiles
Deliver zoom-based map tiles in one file
- Use offline maps in compatible mapping applications
Good fit for MVT
Serve geographic features in tiles
- Fetch layers and attributes needed for a map view
Basic information
| Field | MBTiles | MVT |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .mbtiles | .mvt |
| MIME type | application/vnd.mapbox-vector-tile | |
| Common uses | Deliver zoom-based map tiles in one file | Serve geographic features in tiles |
| How to open | Use MBTiles-aware GIS and check format, bounds, zoom levels and layers. tile_row follows TMS, vertically reversed from common XYZ y. Convert using y_TMS = 2^z - 1 - y_XYZ. | Configure tile URLs, bounds and projection in a compatible map tool, then apply styles matching the layer names. |
| Export or convert | Keep coordinates and metadata when extracting tiles. The pbf payload is gzip-compressed MVT. Image and vector processing differ; lost source precision and removed attributes cannot be recovered. | Reconstruction as GeoJSON requires coordinate transformation using the tile's geographic bounds, projection and extent. In common z/x/y delivery, zoom and tile position determine the bounds. Rounding, simplification or clipping losses cannot be reversed. |
Choose by use case
Use offline maps in compatible mapping applications
Deliver zoom-based map tiles in one file
MBTilesFetch layers and attributes needed for a map view
Serve geographic features in tiles
MVTKey point 1
MBTiles groups tile positions and metadata across zoom levels.
More on the differencesKey point 2
MVT stores layers, features, attributes and tile-local coordinates.
More on the differencesMore on the differences
Check receiver support for both the MBTiles container and its vector payload. Image-only MBTiles needs image format support, not an MVT decoder.
- In MBTiles 1.3, format=pbf means gzip-compressed MVT. During extraction handle compression, TMS/XYZ tile_row conversion and zoom correctly.
- Share MVT rendering styles separately. Packaging does not restore precision or attributes lost during tiling.
Frequently asked questions
Does packaging MVT in MBTiles restore source features?
No. Packaging does not reconstruct original geometry or attributes. Keep source data separately for editing and regeneration.