Classification of web maps

If one looks at the the mapping options, it is possible to distinquish between several methods that differ in terms of necessary technical skills from both the user's and provider's perspective.

The overview given here (see scheme below) can only be a snapshot, since development on the WWW is tremendously fast. This 'classification' is certainly not carved in stone, and one might easily find examples that would not fit thes categories, or define new categories or combinations.

The above classifiation gives an overview of current possibilities, based on how the map image is used. Click on the above classification to explore samples of the different types of web maps. The samples in the respective categories given are randomly chosen form the huge number of possibilities on the ever growing web, and not necessarily the most representative.

An important distinction is that between static and dynamic maps. Each of these categories is further subdivided into view-only and interactive maps. The most common map found on the WWW is the static view-only map. Static maps offer traditional map images, mostly stored as bitmaps. Often the sources for these maps are original cartographic products, which are scanned and places on the WWW.