Projection laboratory · interactive
One planet, seven mathematical lenses. Keep the geography constant and watch area, shape, distance and direction compete.
A map projection is a mathematical method for translating locations from the Earth’s curved surface to a plane. The grid makes the transformation visible: straight, curved, compressed and stretched lines reveal the projection’s priorities.
Equal-area projections preserve relative area. Conformal projections preserve local angles and small shapes. Compromise projections preserve no single property perfectly but reduce several kinds of world-scale distortion.
Navigation, statistical comparison, classroom reference and a hemisphere view do not need the same geometry. Ask what the reader must compare, then choose the projection whose distortion does the least harm to that task.
Projection quick reference
| Projection | Family | Useful for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercator | Conformal | Local angles, web map navigation | Area inflation toward the poles |
| Equal Earth | Equal-area | Global statistical maps | Shape distortion away from central regions |
| Robinson | Compromise | General world reference | No property is preserved exactly |
| Winkel Tripel | Compromise | Balanced world atlases | Area and angles remain imperfect |
| Orthographic | Perspective | Globe-like hemisphere views | Only half the Earth is visible |
Projection FAQ
A curved surface cannot be flattened without changing area, shape, distance or direction. A projection chooses which properties to preserve and where distortion will appear.
There is no universally most accurate projection. The best choice depends on the map’s purpose, extent and the property that matters most.
Mercator scale increases toward the poles. This preserves local angles but greatly enlarges high-latitude areas on a world map.
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