Map Clustering Is Not My Favorite

4 days ago

The author has long been frustrated with map clustering, a technique developed around 20 years ago to handle displaying many points on maps due to browser limitations.
Clustering often hides information, requiring zooming to reveal points, which can be inefficient and sometimes fails if points are too close together, leaving clusters permanently closed.
Zooming into clusters can unexpectedly reveal points not located at the cluster's center, leading to poor user experience and frustration.
The author argues that displaying clustered numbers on a map is visually straining and inefficient for human interpretation.
With modern mapping technology (e.g., GPU-powered, fast rendering), the original problem of too many points slowing browsers is largely solved, making clustering unnecessary.
As an example, the author recreated a map of Atlas Obscura data using Protomaps and MapLibre GL JS, showing all points without clustering, resulting in a fast and clear visualization.
The author concludes that it's time to move beyond clustering, advocating for displaying all points directly on maps to improve clarity and user experience.

Hasty Briefsbeta