Create node

One of the main OpenStreetMap API usabilities

Creates a new node element. In response you will receive node ID.

To create new node you must operate inside an open changeset

Insert the ongoing changeset ID changeset to the request body. After completing various operations on the element, you should close a changset (or it will close automatically). You can also do multiple operations on many elements (create, update, delete) in one ongoing changeset.

In request body the node's latitude lat and longitude lon are also required (check the example).

Request

/api/0.6/nodes

Example body request for creating node

<osm>
  <node changeset="412389" lat="50.8039354" lon="16.2648005">
    <tag k="amenity" v="garden"/>
    <tag k="name" v="Node (2nd) for a plot in the ROD-Association garden"/>
  </node>
</osm>

Response

nodeID_example.xml
1	`4359471036`

Error codes

400 (Bad Request)405 (Method Not Allowed)409 (Conflict)429 (Too Many Requests)

When there are errors parsing the XML (a text message explaining the error is returned). When a changeset ID is missing, when a node is outside the world.

If the request is not a (HTTP) POST request.

If the changeset in question has already been closed - either by the user itself, or as a result of the auto-closing feature (example: The changeset 412384 was closed at 2025-04-23 11:51:26 UTC). Also, if the user trying to update the changeset is not the same, as the one that created it.

When the request has been blocked due to rate limiting.