
While traditional server-side rendering works for creating static map tiles, the resulting tiles cannot be styled once they reach the client. Client-side renderingĪt the heart of the Mapbox mobile SDKs is Mapbox GL: a powerful rendering engine that reads raw data and style rules and outputs complete, rendered maps on the device. The Mapbox Maps SDKs for iOS and Android allow you to add interactive maps to your mobile applications, define custom and dynamic style rules, manipulate custom data, and interface with Mapbox web APIs. This guide outlines how the Mapbox mobile SDKs work and how Mapbox services can be added to a mobile application. Where possible, the Mapbox Maps SDKs for iOS and Android provide straightforward drop-in replacements for common platform-specific maps SDKs. You can add your custom Mapbox style, search for locations using the Mapbox Geocoding API, or get directions, all without leaving your app. These SDKs leverage Mapbox's open source OpenGL-based renderer, Mapbox GL Native, and support a full suite of dynamic styling features and interactivity.

The Mapbox Maps SDK for iOS and the Mapbox Maps SDK for Android are open-source tools for adding Mapbox maps to mobile applications.
