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Map charts visualize geographic data as interactive point maps. Each data point is plotted at its latitude/longitude coordinates and can be sized and colored by additional measures or dimensions in your query.

When to use

  • Visualizing events or entities with known geographic coordinates (e.g. store locations, shipment origins, user sign-up cities)
  • Identifying geographic clusters or outliers
  • Showing how a measure varies across geographic locations
For region-based maps (countries, states), use the Custom visualization with a Vega-Lite geographic spec.

Data structure

A map chart requires at minimum:
  • A Latitude field — a numeric measure or dimension containing decimal latitude values
  • A Longitude field — a numeric measure or dimension containing decimal longitude values
Optionally:
  • A Size field — a numeric measure that scales point radius proportionally
  • A Color field — a dimension or measure that colors points by category or value

Configuring the map

Point color

When no Color field is assigned, all points render in a single configurable color. Use the color picker in the style panel to change it. When a dimension is assigned to the Color channel, each unique dimension value gets a distinct color from the active color palette.

Point size

Assign a numeric measure to the Size channel to scale point radius by value. The size range (minimum and maximum radius in pixels) can be configured in the style panel. When no Size field is assigned, all points render at the same fixed radius.

Tooltip fields

Add fields to the Tooltip channel to control what appears when a user hovers over a point. By default, all mapped fields (latitude, longitude, size, color) appear in the tooltip. Remove or reorder them in the Tooltips section of the Fields tab. See Tooltips for details.

Projection

The map supports two projection types:
ProjectionDescription
Mercator (2D)Standard flat map projection — best for most use cases
Globe (3D)Spherical globe view — useful for data spanning multiple continents
Switch the projection in the style panel.

Map interaction

The map is interactive by default — users can pan and zoom. Initial center coordinates and zoom level can be configured in the style panel.