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Update way

  • One of the main OpenStreetMap API usabilities

Updates data for a existing way element.

To update existing way 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 way ID id, way version version, node's IDs nd ref and way tags tags are also required (check the example).

A full representation of the element as it should be after the update has to be provided

Any tags, way-node refs, and relation members that remain unchanged must be in the update as well. Also, a version number must be provided as well, it must match the current version of the element in the database.

Request

/api/0.6/way/{id}
Example body request for update way with ID
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<osm>
  <way id="4307240014" version="1" changeset="412389">
    <nd ref="4359470504"/>
    <nd ref="4359471036"/>
    <tag k="highway" v="footway"/>
    <tag k="JayStecki" v="Boundary (1) for a plot in the ROD-Association garden"/>
    <tag k="surface" v="gravel"/>
  </way>
</osm>

Response

succesUpdateWay_example.xml
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Error codes

When there are errors parsing the XML – a text message explaining the error is returned (example: Version is required when updating). This can also happen if you forget to pass the Content-Length header. When a changeset ID is missing, when a node is outside the world, when there are too many nodes for a way.

When no element with the given ID could be found (example: Requested resource could not be found).

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 a way has nodes that do not exist, were deleted or aren't visible.

When the request has been blocked due to rate limiting.