Web services
In the previous chapter, you learned how to add data to GeoServer. All this data is available through standard interfaces, Web Map Service (WMS), Web Feature Service (WFS), and Web Coverage Service (WCS).
WMS lets you publish data in the form of maps, your data is represented in a graphical form with symbols and colors; all the map preparation work is done by the server. The client just needs to present the graphical file to the user.
WFS lets your clients receive a geometrical representation of the features, the server does not add any symbolization or graphical decoration; the clients get the raw data.
WCS is the standard method to get raster data in a raw mode; analogous to WFS for vector data, the server does not transform the data and sends it to the clients as it is.
Whatever mode you choose to create a request, you will insert a layer in it. As you have seen in the previous chapters, all the data in GeoServer is organized in layers.
From the Layer Preview window, you can find...
