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A WMS (Web Map Service) request that retrieves data, for a pixel location on a map.

A GetFeatureInfo request retrieves data that the WMS service provider wishes to provide for a pixel location on a map.

Support for the GetFeatureInfo is optional per layer in a WMS. Support for a GetFeatureInfo request is indicated by the queryable attribute in a WMS GetCapabilities response, that is:

<!--- Below layer does not support GetFeatureInfo requests --->
<Layer queryable="0" opaque="0" cascaded="0">
    <Name>ATA_USGS_LIMA</Name>
    ...

<!--- Below layer supports GetFeatureInfo requests --->
<Layer queryable="1" opaque="0" cascaded="0">
    <Name>ITA_Ancona1_ESA_EN_5k_psi_AvVEL</Name>

A service will normally support several output formats for the request, such output formats are advertised in the GetCapabilities response, for example: 

<GetFeatureInfo>
 <Format>text/html</Format>
 <Format>application/vnd.ogc.gml</Format>
 <Format>text/xml</Format>
 <Format>text/plain</Format>
 ...
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