All About Layer Properties
The Layer Properties menu allows you to view and control (almost) all aspects of your data layers.
Included in this tutorial:
Accessing the Layer Properties Menu
Vector Layer Properties
Raster Layer Properties
Software version in examples: QGIS 3.34 Prizren
Tutorial Data: The tutorial includes demonstration with sample data available here.
Credits: L. Meisterlin (2026)
Related Tutorials: This tutorial lists the common options available within a Layer’s Properties. Several of these include links to related tutorials for more information on using those options.
Accessing the Layer Properties Menu
You can access Layer Properties by right-clicking the layer name in the Layers Panel and clicking Properties.
Accessing a layer’s Properties menu
This will summon the Layer Properties menu and dialogue box for the chosen layer.
Vector Layer Properties
For vector layers, you will see these tabs (on the left side of the menu): Information, Source, Symbology, Labels, Masks, 3D View, Diagrams, Fields, Attributes Form, Joins, Auxiliary Storage, Actions, Display, Rendering, Temporal, Variables, Elevation, Metadata, Dependencies, Legend, QGIS Server, and Digitizing.
The Layer Properties menu for a vector layer with the tabs highlighted. (You can scroll down to access the lower tabs.)
A brief description of what you can find in the properties tabs is provided below. These are arranged mostly in the order they appear within the software, with some slight differences for clarity.
Information: The basic information about the dataset including its source (where the dataset is stored), its coordinate reference system (CRS), and other information culled from its metadata.
Source: Some of the basic information included in the Information tab is editable in the Source tab, including the layer’s name.
Metadata: Add or edit metadata information for the layer in this tab. You can also save your metadata to a standalone file using the options at the bottom of the dialogue box.
Properties to change the appearance of features or the map:
Symbology: Access and change the layer’s symbology properties within this tab. For more, see a list of Symbology tutorials here.
Labels: The Labels properties allow you to apply and format labels to specific features on your map. Options include rule-based labels based on feature attributes. See the tutorial for Labeling Features.
Masks: Apply masked symbols to layers using the options here.
3D View: Apply settings for changing heights and extrusions for rendering features in a 3D Map View here. (Refer also to the Elevation properties tab below.)
Diagrams: Create and modify diagrams to features based on the layer’s attributes. For example, you can add pie charts that summarize different quantities per feature.
Legend: You can establish settings that pre-format legend items from this layer.
Properties related to attributes:
Fields: This menu includes the attribute field properties. You can also create new fields and calculate fields through this menu. See the Attribute Fields Properties tutorial for more.
Attributes Form: These options will allow you to generate or customize a form for filling in feature attributes when adding or creating (digitizing) new features. You can also hide the form that pops up when digitizing. For more information, see the tutorials on Digitizing Points, Digitizing Lines, and Digitizing Polygons.
Joins: This menu will list current table joins associated with the layer. Here you can add, remove, or edit table joins. See also the Table Joins tutorial.
Auxiliary Storage: Information on additional data contained in storage tables related to the layer is here.
Properties related to interactions and appearance of the layer or its features within the software:
Actions: You can create, remove, or edit automated actions applied to the layer that are triggered by certain events within this menu.
Display: These options control how features are identified within the map canvas display. These include which attribute value is used to identify each feature when clicked with the Identify Features tool.
Rendering: These settings allow you customize how features are rendered while working within the software. These include options to simplify complex geometry for speed and to change the default selection color.
Temporal: The Temporal settings allow you to control which features are rendered based on date or time ranges, based on one or more temporal attributes.
Variables: You can access an uneditable list of Global variables, Project-based variables, as well as variables for the specific layer within this menu. You can also add new variables for the layer. (Any added variables can also be edited or removed.)
Elevation: Set the elevation options for the layer’s features within this menu. These apply to 3D Map Views and can be further manipulated with the 3D View properties (listed above).
Dependencies: You can establish dependencies between this layer and others in your project (such that the layer’s features can be updated if changes are applied to other layers).
Other Properties:
QGIS Server: Here you will find the settings for adding this layer to a QGIS Server.
Digitizing: When digitizing new features within this layer, these properties include options to check your geometry and topology.
Raster Layer Properties
For raster layers, you will see these tabs (on the left side of the menu): Information, Source, Symbology, Transparency, Histogram, Rendering, Temporal, Pyramids, Elevation, Metadata, Legend, Display, Attribute Tables, QGIS Server.
The Layer Properties menu for a raster layer with the tabs highlighted.
A brief description of what you can find in the properties tabs is provided below. These are arranged mostly in the order they appear within the software, with some slight differences for clarity.
Information: The basic information about the dataset including its source (where the dataset is stored), its coordinate reference system (CRS) and cell (pixel) size, band descriptions, and other information culled from its metadata.
Source: Some of the basic information included in the Information tab is editable in the Source tab, including the layer’s name.
Metadata: Add or edit metadata information for the layer in this tab. You can also save your metadata to a standalone file using the options at the bottom of the dialogue box.
Properties to change the appearance of the layer or the map:
Symbology: Access and change the layer’s symbology properties within this tab. For more, see a list of Symbology tutorials here.
Transparency: Settings for layer transparency (including those determined by the raster layer’s cell values) are located here.
Legend: You can establish settings that pre-format legend items (via widgets) from this layer.
Properties related to a raster’s values:
Histogram: Use this menu to generate (and inspect) a histogram of a raster’s values. You can distinguish histograms by band as well.
Attribute Tables: You can generate or load an attribute table from a raster’s values within this menu.
Properties related to interactions and appearance of the layer or its features within the software:
Rendering: These settings allow you customize how the raster layer is rendered while working within the software. These include options to setting minimum and maximum scales and refresh rates.
Temporal: The Temporal settings allow you to control whether the raster layer is re-rendered based on a temporal range (that you set).
Pyramids: You can build internal pyramids for your raster layer within this menu. This will allow faster rendering of your layer within the software. Make a copy of your original data first.
Elevation: Set the elevation options for the layer’s features within this menu. These are visible in 3D Map Views.
Display: Here you can enable map tips and customize (with HTML) how values are identified within the map canvas display.
Other Properties:
QGIS Server: Here you will find the settings for adding this layer to a QGIS Server.