Maps and Facts

What are the parts of a map?

Numbered below are descriptions of cartographic elements that are commonly found on a map layout. Some maps have all eight elements while other maps may only contain a few of them.

These eight possible map elements that make up the parts of a map are:

  1. Data (or map) frame

  2. Map legend

  3. Map title

  4. North arrow

  5. Map scale bar

  6. Metadata (or map citation)

  7. Border (or neatline)

  8. Inset (or locator) map.