# Getting Started
Although the most straightforward way to use Torque is through either the CartoDB Editor, or by passing the layer's viz.json to [CartoDB.js](http://docs.cartodb.com/cartodb-platform/cartodb-js/getting-started/), many use cases work best with the standalone [Torque.js](https://github.com/CartoDB/torque/tree/master/dist). Assuming you have a public dataset with a `date` column, it is really simple to create an animated map with the library. First, you need to have a Leaflet map prepared in an HTML page:
```html
```
This HTML file automatically generates the Torque.js library, which includes any Torque dependencies. For Torque to work with your table, you only need a username, the name of the table, and a CartoCSS string to style the map. Leaflet's method `addTo` adds the Torque layer to the map. `play` runs the animation with the options specified in the CartoCSS properties.
```html
```
You can use any kind of tile source outside CartoDB, by specifying the location of a [valid TileJSON](https://github.com/mapbox/tilejson-spec) file:
```javascript
var torqueLayer = new L.TorqueLayer({
tileJSON: 'http://url.to/tile.json'
cartocss: CARTOCSS
});
```
Optionally, it is also possible to use a custom SQL query for your visualization:
```javascript
var torqueLayer = new L.TorqueLayer({
user : 'your_username',
table : 'your_table_name',
sql_query : 'SELECT * FROM your_table_name WHERE whatever'
cartocss: CARTOCSS
});
```
Like in a video player, you can use animation control methods such as `play`, `stop` and `pause` at any point. Torque's animator fires a `change:time` event each time the animation "ticks" to the next frame, and there are a number of properties and methods that can be run during playback, which are detailed in the [API documentation](/cartodb-platform/torque/torqueapi/). At any point, for example, the styling of the layer's markers can be changed using the `layer.setCartoCSS('##style##')`.
## Usage Examples
The best way to start learning about the library is by taking a look at some of the examples below:
* A basic example using the WWI British Navy dataset - ([view live](http://cartodb.github.io/torque/examples/navy_leaflet.html) / [source code](https://github.com/CartoDB/torque/blob/master/examples/navy_leaflet.html))
* Using tileJSON to fetch tiles - ([view live](http://cartodb.github.io/torque/examples/tilejson.html) / [source code](https://github.com/CartoDB/torque/blob/master/examples/tilejson.html))
* A car's route at the Nürburgring track mapped in Torque - ([view live](http://cartodb.github.io/torque/examples/car.html) / [source code](https://github.com/CartoDB/torque/blob/master/examples/car.html))
## Additional Torque Resources
The following links contain examples, and other public information, about using Torque maps.
- Torque [CartoCSS Reference page](https://github.com/cartodb/torque-reference), useful for building parsers, tests, compilers, and syntax highlighting/checking
- CartoDB repository of [examples](https://github.com/CartoDB/torque/tree/master/examples)
- A CartoDB [time example](http://cartodb.github.com/torque/) of a Torque map and data
- CartoDB wiki page describing [how spatial aggregration works](https://github.com/CartoDB/torque/wiki/How-spatial-aggregation-works)
- The [Guardian's Data Blog](http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2012/oct/01/first-world-war-royal-navy-ships-mapped) about Royal Navy ships in WWI using a Torque map
- An example of how to create a [simple Torque visualization](https://github.com/CartoDB/torque#getting-started) and the [source code](https://github.com/CartoDB/torque/blob/master/examples/navy_leaflet.html) used to create the example
- An example of how to use CartoDB.js to [add a Torque layer from a named map with auth_tokens enabled](https://gist.github.com/chriswhong/a4d1e6305ecaf2ad507a)