{"id":10311,"date":"2016-05-04T18:16:09","date_gmt":"2016-05-04T23:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/?p=10311"},"modified":"2025-03-30T06:20:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-30T11:20:27","slug":"map-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/map-legend\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Map Legend?"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-image10311_ad364a-ef .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image10311_ad364a-ef size-medium_large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"377\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-768x377.png\" alt=\"Map Legend\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-10323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-768x377.png 768w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-300x147.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-678x332.png 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-50x25.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-200x98.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-425x208.png 425w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-550x270.png 550w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-115x56.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3-316x155.png 316w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-3.png 822w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do symbols represent on your map?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A map legend <strong>defines features<\/strong> in a map.  It simply displays the symbol followed by a text description of what that symbol represents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You find map legends everywhere. For example, subway maps, road maps, and even video game maps have map legends.  And there&#8217;s no better way than to illustrate this with a couple of examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, some maps can have fifteen to twenty different symbols in them.  And it&#8217;s hard for the reader to really understand each one.   That&#8217;s why they need to reference a chart containing each symbol.  That&#8217;s what <strong>map legends<\/strong> do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s take a look at map legend examples in cartography.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Let&#8217;s start with some map legend examples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re defining elements in a simple road map&#8230; map legends are one of those <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/map-elements-how-to-guide-map-making\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">essential map elements<\/a> that you absolutely need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you are classifying soil orders like in the map below, how would you know what each color meant without a map legend?  You can&#8217;t label each polygon as it would be cluttered in text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"609\" height=\"265\" src=\"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4.png\" alt=\"Soils Map Legend\" class=\"wp-image-10333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4.png 609w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4-50x22.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4-80x35.png 80w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4-200x87.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4-425x185.png 425w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4-550x239.png 550w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4-115x50.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Soils-Map-Legend-4-356x155.png 356w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 609px) 100vw, 609px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an appropriate case for using one.  Actually, map legends are the driving force to understanding what is on a map.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are found everywhere from wind speeds like the <a href=\"http:\/\/earth.nullschool.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Earth Null School<\/a> map.  In this case, it is a color ramp for wind speeds going from slow to fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"134\" src=\"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-550x134.png\" alt=\"Wind Speed Map Legend\" class=\"wp-image-10325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-550x134.png 550w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-300x73.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-678x165.png 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-768x187.png 768w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-50x12.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-200x49.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-425x103.png 425w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-115x28.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend-637x155.png 637w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Wind-Speed-Map-Legend.png 822w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, the <a href=\"https:\/\/map.geo.admin.ch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SwissTopo<\/a> has a variety of different symbols for the reader to understand.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"678\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SwissTopo-678x240.jpg\" alt=\"SwissTopo\" class=\"wp-image-96464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SwissTopo-678x240.jpg 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SwissTopo-300x106.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SwissTopo.jpg 715w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, you understand <em><strong>what<\/strong><\/em> is <em><strong>where<\/strong><\/em> on the map. Let&#8217;s take a closer look at how to read a map legend.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to read a map legend<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine you&#8217;re lost in the woods.  You&#8217;re in desperate need of food and water&#8230; and all you have is a road map and compass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your survival instincts begin to kick in.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You know where you are on the map, but it&#8217;s time to make some sense of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So you pull out your map and it looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"425\" height=\"192\" src=\"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-425x192.png\" alt=\"Map Example\" class=\"wp-image-10342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-425x192.png 425w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-678x306.png 678w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-50x23.png 50w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-80x35.png 80w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-200x90.png 200w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-550x248.png 550w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-115x52.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-850x383.png 850w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2-344x155.png 344w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-2.png 863w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You begin to look at the features and line them up with the map legend.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aha! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blue means water.  Green is a forested area.  Red and black lines define the types of roads.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-Legend.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"172\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-Legend-172x200.png\" alt=\"Map Example Legend\" class=\"wp-image-10344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-Legend-172x200.png 172w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-Legend-257x300.png 257w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-Legend-43x50.png 43w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-Legend-115x134.png 115w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-Legend-133x155.png 133w, https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Map-Example-Legend.png 289w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 172px) 100vw, 172px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At this moment, you&#8217;re reading the map legend.  The map legend contains all the symbols (symbology) used in the map to help the reader understand what the polygons, lines, points, or grid cells represent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So <strong>where<\/strong> should you go?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your best bet is to march your way to the primary and secondary highways because natural features like water and forest are not a sure path to finding people.  Certainly, gravel roads and abandoned roads are no guarantee either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Certainly, the telephone in the south would be handy too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You pull out your compass and head south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s only because you could make sense out of a map legend that you could make that decision.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s Next?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cartographers simplify features in a map using symbols to represent real-world entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sort of like a restaurant menu, these features in a map are defined in the map legend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From simple topographic maps to complex geologic surveys, map keys (or map legends) are found in almost every single modern map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have a complete <a href=\"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/legends-tutorial-in-arcgis-pro\/\">guide on how to tackle legends in ArcGIS Pro<\/a>, which includes a step-by-step video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anything else you need to know?  Drop a comment below.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A map legend is used to define features in a map.  Point, line and polygon symbols in a legend key is the driving-force to understand what is found in a map.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[108],"tags":[525],"class_list":["post-10311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maps-cartography","tag-map-design"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Map Legend? - GIS Geography<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A map legend is used to define features in a map. 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