Maps are top down views of physical locations. When maps were first invented they were drawn on paper, but today you are much more likely to view a map on a screen. These maps are likely to have features which users can interact with. These interactions can include:

• Manipulating the map.
• Highlighting additional information.
• Zooming.
• Scrolling.
• Annotating the map.

Maps might be the cornerstone of your website, or added as decoration. A business directory for example, will need an interactive map which pinpoints the location of each business. Even as a mere static image, maps can be a great way to break up text in your website.

Uses of Web Maps

The most basic and obvious use of a map is to show site visitors the location(s) of your business. This is usually placed in the contact page. Beyond that, the possibilities are endless. Just a few examples include:

• Chronological journey locations and route of a holiday.
• Geospatial information such as
  • Weather patterns
  • Voter distribution
  • Socio economic data
  • Property boundaries
• Location data
  • Office locations of your business
  • Locations of items in a directory such as homes for sale on a real estate website.

Implementing Interactive Maps

We can create maps on your website with the Google Maps API. Other great tools for creating online maps include:

• Mapbox
• HighMaps
• Tableau

Find Out More

Web Design Ledger and Design Modo contain some examples of beautiful interactive maps to inspire you.

You can find out more about interactive web maps at these resources:

• W3 Schools Google Maps tutorial
• Google vs Mapbox comparison