map legend
Chart's decoding tool
A map legend is the key that explains what the symbols, colors, and patterns on a map represent.
It typically appears in a corner or margin, translating visual shorthand into meaning: The map legend showed that dotted lines indicated hiking trails.
Without the legend, many maps would be unreadable.
Also called simply a legend or key.
- compass roseCartographic direction indicator
- scaleMeasure of relative size
- color scaleOrdered sequence of hues
- distance markerSign showing miles remaining
- topographyPhysical feature mapping
key · contour lines · gridlines · symbols · visual hierarchy · iconography · landforms · annotation · color coding · route maps · political boundaries · data visualization · atlas · wayfinding · you are here · trail markers · latitude · longitude
- reference chartsperiodic table, multiplication table, times table, conversion chart, tide table
- Map Termslatitude, longitude, equator, meridian, prime meridian
- cartographymaps, atlas, globes, cartographers, navigation chart
- 20th century world mapsatlas, globe, world atlas, compass rose, latitude
- antique mapsatlas, cartographer, Mercator, mapmaker, compass rose
- GISGIS, layer, geospatial, mapping, coordinate