Founded in 2004, OSM relies on data inputs provided by volunteers using sources ranging from portable GPS devices​ and aerial photography to local knowledge. Critically, all data are available as images or in vector format for free and open download under a Creative Commons license, facilitating the use of OSM in a multitude of applications and add-ons.

OSM featured 50,000 registered users in 2008, and that number grew past 600,000 by April 2012. Most information is gathered by ground surveys (by mappers on foot, bicycle, car, boats, etc.), and some data are contributed by government sources and commercial databases.