OpenLayers is like a big map that you can look at on your computer or phone. It can show you lots of different things like roads, buildings, parks, and rivers. You can also zoom in and out to see things up close or far away.
But OpenLayers isn't just a regular map. It's special because you can interact with it. This means you can click on things and do stuff like find the closest restaurant, get directions to your friend's house, or even measure how far away something is.
OpenLayers is also different from other maps because it's open source. This means that lots of people from all around the world can work on it and make it better. They can add new features or make it work better on different devices. And the best part is that it's free to use for everyone!