How to apply SLD in GeoServer

Table of Contents

This tutorial will focus on outlining step by step process of applying a style on a layer in GeoServer. A Style Layer Descriptor (SLD) file from QGIS will be used to style the layers.

Launch QGIS and Export the Styled Layer Descriptor.

Firstly, open QGIS and load the vector layer that you want to style. Apply the style of your choice on the layer then save the style as an SLD. To achieve that, proceed as follows:

Right-click on the layer and select Properties.

The Layer Properties window opens.

On the left panel, click on Symbology.

Navigate to the Layer Rendering section and click on the Style option. A drop down menu appears. Select Save Style.

On the Save layer dropdown, select save style As SLD file then navigate to your project folder and save the style layer.

Launch GeoServer and Add the SLD to Styles.

Secondly, open GeoServer and import the SLD file which will be used to style the layer.

Navigate to http://localhost:8080/geoserver and log in using your username and password.

On the left panel, under the Data option, click on Styles. The Styles window appears.

Select the Add a new style option.

You will be prompted to enter the style name, select the workspace and the format of the style.

Under the Style Content section, upload the style file, which is the SLD file exported from QGIS.

Navigate to the SLD file and click upload. The XML formatting will populate on the text area then click the Validate button. An alternative method would be to open the SLD file using your code editor, copy the XML code and paste it on the GeoServer text area then click on Validate.