The PBF (Protocolbuffer Binary Format) is a compact, binary file format used to store OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. It is an alternative to the older XML-based `.osm` format, offering significantly smaller file sizes and faster processing. PBF uses Google’s Protocol Buffers for efficient data serialization, making it ideal for applications that need to download, parse, or process large-scale map data quickly. It supports compression and Homeing, which enhances performance for tools and services working with geographic data, such as map rendering, routing, and data analysis.
