What is raster data?

Raster data represents geographic information as a grid of cells (pixels), each with one or more values. Continuous phenomena — elevation, temperature, reflectance, land use — fit raster format well, unlike discrete vector objects.

Examples: orthophoto (color per pixel), DEM (elevation per cell), satellite images. PDOK delivers orthophoto and elevation models as raster via WMS or download. Cell size sets resolution; larger cells mean less detail.

Raster is not vector data: not points/lines/polygons with ID and attributes per object, but values on a fixed grid. DEM and orthophoto are special raster types. Analysis: reclass, slope, raster-vector overlay.