Google Maps Overlays

Overlays are objects on the map that are bound to latitude/longitude coordinates

Google Maps - Overlays

Overlays are objects on the map that are bound to latitude/longitude coordinates.

Google Maps has several types of overlays:

  • Marker - Single locations on a map. Markers can also display custom icon images
  • Polyline - Series of straight lines on a map
  • Polygon - Series of straight lines on a map, and the shape is "closed"
  • Circle and Rectangle
  • Info Windows - Displays content within a popup balloon on top of a map
  • Custom overlays
  • Google Maps - Add a Marker

    The Marker constructor creates a marker. Note that the position property must be set for the marker to display.

    Add the marker to the map by using the setMap() method:

    Example

    var marker = new google.maps.Marker({position: myCenter});

    marker.setMap(map);

    Google Maps - Animate the Marker

    The example below shows how to animate the marker with the animation property:

    Example

    var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
      position:myCenter,
      animation:google.maps.Animation.BOUNCE
    });

    marker.setMap(map);

    Google Maps - Icon Instead of Marker

    The example below specifies an image (icon) to use instead of the default marker:

    Example

    var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
      position:myCenter,
      icon:'pinkball.png'
    });

    marker.setMap(map);

    Google Maps - Polyline

    A Polyline is a line that is drawn through a series of coordinates in an ordered sequence.

    A polyline supports the following properties:

  • path - specifies several latitude/longitude coordinates for the line
  • strokeColor - specifies a hexadecimal color for the line (format: "#FFFFFF")
  • strokeOpacity - specifies the opacity of the line (a value between 0.0 and 1.0)
  • strokeWeight - specifies the weight of the line's stroke in pixels
  • editable - defines whether the line is editable by users (true/false)
  • Example

    var myTrip = [stavanger,amsterdam,london];
    var flightPath = new google.maps.Polyline({
      path:myTrip,
      strokeColor:"#0000FF",
      strokeOpacity:0.8,
      strokeWeight:2
    });

    Google Maps - Polygon

    A Polygon is similar to a Polyline in that it consists of a series of coordinates in an ordered sequence. However, polygons are designed to define regions within a closed loop.

    Polygons are made of straight lines, and the shape is "closed" (all the lines connect up).

    A polygon supports the following properties:

  • path - specifies several LatLng coordinates for the line (first and last coordinate are equal)
  • strokeColor - specifies a hexadecimal color for the line (format: "#FFFFFF")
  • strokeOpacity - specifies the opacity of the line (a value between 0.0 and 1.0)
  • strokeWeight - specifies the weight of the line's stroke in pixels
  • fillColor - specifies a hexadecimal color for the area within the enclosed region (format: "#FFFFFF")
  • fillOpacity - specifies the opacity of the fill color (a value between 0.0 and 1.0)
  • editable - defines whether the line is editable by users (true/false)
  • Example

    var myTrip = [stavanger,amsterdam,london,stavanger];
    var flightPath = new google.maps.Polygon({
      path:myTrip,
      strokeColor:"#0000FF",
      strokeOpacity:0.8,
      strokeWeight:2,
      fillColor:"#0000FF",
      fillOpacity:0.4
    });

    Google Maps - Circle

    A circle supports the following properties:

  • center - specifies the google.maps.LatLng of the center of the circle
  • radius - specifies the radius of the circle, in meters
  • strokeColor - specifies a hexadecimal color for the line around the circle (format: "#FFFFFF")
  • strokeOpacity - specifies the opacity of the stroke color (a value between 0.0 and 1.0)
  • strokeWeight - specifies the weight of the line's stroke in pixels
  • fillColor - specifies a hexadecimal color for the area within the circle (format: "#FFFFFF")
  • fillOpacity - specifies the opacity of the fill color (a value between 0.0 and 1.0)
  • editable - defines whether the circle is editable by users (true/false)
  • Example

    var myCity = new google.maps.Circle({
      center:amsterdam,
      radius:20000,
      strokeColor:"#0000FF",
      strokeOpacity:0.8,
      strokeWeight:2,
      fillColor:"#0000FF",
      fillOpacity:0.4
    });

    Google Maps - InfoWindow

    Show an InfoWindow with some text content for a marker:

    Example

    var infowindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
      content:"Hello World!"
    });

    infowindow.open(map,marker);