Markers (Legacy)

Select platform: Android iOS JavaScript

Introduction

A marker identifies a location on a map. By default, a marker uses a standard image. Markers can display custom images, in which case they are usually referred to as "icons." Markers and icons are objects of type Marker. You can set a custom icon within the marker's constructor, or by calling setIcon() on the marker. See more about customizing the marker image.

Broadly speaking, markers are a type of overlay. For information on other types of overlay, see Drawing on the map.

Markers are designed to be interactive. For example, by default they receive 'click' events, so you can add an event listener to bring up an info window displaying custom information. You can allow users to move a marker on the map by setting the marker's draggable property to true. For more information about draggable markers, see below.

Add a marker

The google.maps.Marker constructor takes a single Marker options object literal, specifying the initial properties of the marker.

The following fields are particularly important and commonly set when constructing a marker:

  • position (required) specifies a LatLng identifying the initial location of the marker. One way of retrieving a LatLng is by using the Geocoding service.
  • map (optional) specifies the Map on which to place the marker. If you do not specify the map on construction of the marker, the marker is created but is not attached to (or displayed on) the map. You may add the marker later by calling the marker's setMap() method.

The following example adds a simple marker to a map at Uluru, in the center of Australia:

TypeScript

function initMap(): void {
  const myLatLng = { lat: -25.363, lng: 131.044 };

  const map = new google.maps.Map(
    document.getElementById("map") as HTMLElement,
    {
      zoom: 4,
      center: myLatLng,
    }
  );

  new google.maps.Marker({
    position: myLatLng,
    map,
    title: "Hello World!",
  });
}

declare global {
  interface Window {
    initMap: () => void;
  }
}
window.initMap = initMap;
index.ts

JavaScript

function initMap() {
  const myLatLng = { lat: -25.363, lng: 131.044 };
  const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    zoom: 4,
    center: myLatLng,
  });

  new google.maps.Marker({
    position: myLatLng,
    map,
    title: "Hello World!",
  });
}

window.initMap = initMap;
index.js
View example

Try Sample

In the above example, the marker is placed on the map at construction of the marker using the map property in the marker options. Alternatively, you can add the marker to the map directly by using the marker's setMap() method, as shown in the example below: 

var myLatlng = new google.maps.LatLng(-25.363882,131.044922);
var mapOptions = {
  zoom: 4,
  center: myLatlng
}
var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), mapOptions);

var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    position: myLatlng,
    title:"Hello World!"
});

// To add the marker to the map, call setMap();
marker.setMap(map);

The marker's title will appear as a tooltip.

If you do not wish to pass any Marker options in the marker's constructor, instead pass an empty object {} in the last argument of the constructor.

View example

Remove a marker

To remove a marker from the map, call the setMap() method passing null as the argument. 

marker.setMap(null);

Note that the above method does not delete the marker. It removes the marker from the map. If instead you wish to delete the marker, you should remove it from the map, and then set the marker itself to null.

If you wish to manage a set of markers, you should create an array to hold the markers. Using this array, you can then call setMap() on each marker in the array in turn when you need to remove the markers. You can delete the markers by removing them from the map and then setting the array's length to 0, which removes all references to the markers.

View example

Customize a marker image

You can customize the visual appearance of markers by specifying an image file or vector-based icon to display instead of the default Google Maps pushpin icon. You can add text with a marker label, and use complex icons to define clickable regions, and set the stack order of markers.

Markers with image icons

In the most basic case, an icon can specify an image to use instead of the default Google Maps pushpin icon. To specify such an icon, set the marker's icon property to the URL of an image. The Maps JavaScript API will size the icon automatically.

TypeScript

// This example adds a marker to indicate the position of Bondi Beach in Sydney,
// Australia.
function initMap(): void {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(
    document.getElementById("map") as HTMLElement,
    {
      zoom: 4,
      center: { lat: -33, lng: 151 },
    }
  );

  const image =
    "https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/full/images/beachflag.png";
  const beachMarker = new google.maps.Marker({
    position: { lat: -33.89, lng: 151.274 },
    map,
    icon: image,
  });
}

declare global {
  interface Window {
    initMap: () => void;
  }
}
window.initMap = initMap;
index.ts

JavaScript

// This example adds a marker to indicate the position of Bondi Beach in Sydney,
// Australia.
function initMap() {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    zoom: 4,
    center: { lat: -33, lng: 151 },
  });
  const image =
    "https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/full/images/beachflag.png";
  const beachMarker = new google.maps.Marker({
    position: { lat: -33.89, lng: 151.274 },
    map,
    icon: image,
  });
}

window.initMap = initMap;
index.js
View example

Try Sample

Markers with vector-based icons

You can use custom SVG vector paths to define the visual appearance of markers. To do this, pass a Symbol object literal with the desired path to the marker's icon property. You can define a custom path using SVG path notation, or use one of the predefined paths in google.maps.SymbolPath. The anchor property is required in order for the marker to render correctly when the zoom level changes. Learn more about using Symbols to create vector-based icons for markers (and polylines).

TypeScript

// This example uses SVG path notation to add a vector-based symbol
// as the icon for a marker. The resulting icon is a marker-shaped
// symbol with a blue fill and no border.

function initMap(): void {
  const center = new google.maps.LatLng(-33.712451, 150.311823);
  const map = new google.maps.Map(
    document.getElementById("map") as HTMLElement,
    {
      zoom: 9,
      center: center,
    }
  );

  const svgMarker = {
    path: "M-1.547 12l6.563-6.609-1.406-1.406-5.156 5.203-2.063-2.109-1.406 1.406zM0 0q2.906 0 4.945 2.039t2.039 4.945q0 1.453-0.727 3.328t-1.758 3.516-2.039 3.070-1.711 2.273l-0.75 0.797q-0.281-0.328-0.75-0.867t-1.688-2.156-2.133-3.141-1.664-3.445-0.75-3.375q0-2.906 2.039-4.945t4.945-2.039z",
    fillColor: "blue",
    fillOpacity: 0.6,
    strokeWeight: 0,
    rotation: 0,
    scale: 2,
    anchor: new google.maps.Point(0, 20),
  };

  new google.maps.Marker({
    position: map.getCenter(),
    icon: svgMarker,
    map: map,
  });
}

declare global {
  interface Window {
    initMap: () => void;
  }
}
window.initMap = initMap;
index.ts

JavaScript

// This example uses SVG path notation to add a vector-based symbol
// as the icon for a marker. The resulting icon is a marker-shaped
// symbol with a blue fill and no border.
function initMap() {
  const center = new google.maps.LatLng(-33.712451, 150.311823);
  const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    zoom: 9,
    center: center,
  });
  const svgMarker = {
    path: "M-1.547 12l6.563-6.609-1.406-1.406-5.156 5.203-2.063-2.109-1.406 1.406zM0 0q2.906 0 4.945 2.039t2.039 4.945q0 1.453-0.727 3.328t-1.758 3.516-2.039 3.070-1.711 2.273l-0.75 0.797q-0.281-0.328-0.75-0.867t-1.688-2.156-2.133-3.141-1.664-3.445-0.75-3.375q0-2.906 2.039-4.945t4.945-2.039z",
    fillColor: "blue",
    fillOpacity: 0.6,
    strokeWeight: 0,
    rotation: 0,
    scale: 2,
    anchor: new google.maps.Point(0, 20),
  };

  new google.maps.Marker({
    position: map.getCenter(),
    icon: svgMarker,
    map: map,
  });
}

window.initMap = initMap;
index.js
View example

Try Sample

Marker labels

A marker label is a letter or number that appears inside a marker. The marker image in this section displays a marker label with the letter 'B' on it. You can specify a marker label as either a string or a MarkerLabel object that includes a string and other label properties.

When creating a marker, you can specify a label property in the MarkerOptions object. Alternatively, you can call setLabel() on the Marker object to set the label on an existing marker.

The following example displays labeled markers when the user clicks on the map:

TypeScript

// In the following example, markers appear when the user clicks on the map.
// Each marker is labeled with a single alphabetical character.
const labels = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ";
let labelIndex = 0;

function initMap(): void {
  const bangalore = { lat: 12.97, lng: 77.59 };
  const map = new google.maps.Map(
    document.getElementById("map") as HTMLElement,
    {
      zoom: 12,
      center: bangalore,
    }
  );

  // This event listener calls addMarker() when the map is clicked.
  google.maps.event.addListener(map, "click", (event) => {
    addMarker(event.latLng, map);
  });

  // Add a marker at the center of the map.
  addMarker(bangalore, map);
}

// Adds a marker to the map.
function addMarker(location: google.maps.LatLngLiteral, map: google.maps.Map) {
  // Add the marker at the clicked location, and add the next-available label
  // from the array of alphabetical characters.
  new google.maps.Marker({
    position: location,
    label: labels[labelIndex++ % labels.length],
    map: map,
  });
}

declare global {
  interface Window {
    initMap: () => void;
  }
}
window.initMap = initMap;
index.ts

JavaScript

// In the following example, markers appear when the user clicks on the map.
// Each marker is labeled with a single alphabetical character.
const labels = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ";
let labelIndex = 0;

function initMap() {
  const bangalore = { lat: 12.97, lng: 77.59 };
  const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    zoom: 12,
    center: bangalore,
  });

  // This event listener calls addMarker() when the map is clicked.
  google.maps.event.addListener(map, "click", (event) => {
    addMarker(event.latLng, map);
  });
  // Add a marker at the center of the map.
  addMarker(bangalore, map);
}

// Adds a marker to the map.
function addMarker(location, map) {
  // Add the marker at the clicked location, and add the next-available label
  // from the array of alphabetical characters.
  new google.maps.Marker({
    position: location,
    label: labels[labelIndex++ % labels.length],
    map: map,
  });
}

window.initMap = initMap;
index.js
View example

Try Sample

Complex icons

You can specify complex shapes to indicate regions that are clickable, and specify how the icons should appear relative to other overlays (their "stack order"). Icons specified in this manner should set their icon properties to an object of type Icon.

Icon objects define an image. They also define the size of the icon, the origin of the icon (if the image you want is part of a larger image in a sprite, for example), and the anchor where the icon's hotspot should be located (which is based on the origin).

If you are using a label with a custom marker, you can position the label with the labelOrigin property in the Icon object.

TypeScript

// The following example creates complex markers to indicate beaches near
// Sydney, NSW, Australia. Note that the anchor is set to (0,32) to correspond
// to the base of the flagpole.

function initMap(): void {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(
    document.getElementById("map") as HTMLElement,
    {
      zoom: 10,
      center: { lat: -33.9, lng: 151.2 },
    }
  );

  setMarkers(map);
}

// Data for the markers consisting of a name, a LatLng and a zIndex for the
// order in which these markers should display on top of each other.
const beaches: [string, number, number, number][] = [
  ["Bondi Beach", -33.890542, 151.274856, 4],
  ["Coogee Beach", -33.923036, 151.259052, 5],
  ["Cronulla Beach", -34.028249, 151.157507, 3],
  ["Manly Beach", -33.80010128657071, 151.28747820854187, 2],
  ["Maroubra Beach", -33.950198, 151.259302, 1],
];

function setMarkers(map: google.maps.Map) {
  // Adds markers to the map.

  // Marker sizes are expressed as a Size of X,Y where the origin of the image
  // (0,0) is located in the top left of the image.

  // Origins, anchor positions and coordinates of the marker increase in the X
  // direction to the right and in the Y direction down.
  const image = {
    url: "https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/full/images/beachflag.png",
    // This marker is 20 pixels wide by 32 pixels high.
    size: new google.maps.Size(20, 32),
    // The origin for this image is (0, 0).
    origin: new google.maps.Point(0, 0),
    // The anchor for this image is the base of the flagpole at (0, 32).
    anchor: new google.maps.Point(0, 32),
  };
  // Shapes define the clickable region of the icon. The type defines an HTML
  // <area> element 'poly' which traces out a polygon as a series of X,Y points.
  // The final coordinate closes the poly by connecting to the first coordinate.
  const shape = {
    coords: [1, 1, 1, 20, 18, 20, 18, 1],
    type: "poly",
  };

  for (let i = 0; i < beaches.length; i++) {
    const beach = beaches[i];

    new google.maps.Marker({
      position: { lat: beach[1], lng: beach[2] },
      map,
      icon: image,
      shape: shape,
      title: beach[0],
      zIndex: beach[3],
    });
  }
}

declare global {
  interface Window {
    initMap: () => void;
  }
}
window.initMap = initMap;
index.ts

JavaScript

// The following example creates complex markers to indicate beaches near
// Sydney, NSW, Australia. Note that the anchor is set to (0,32) to correspond
// to the base of the flagpole.
function initMap() {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    zoom: 10,
    center: { lat: -33.9, lng: 151.2 },
  });

  setMarkers(map);
}

// Data for the markers consisting of a name, a LatLng and a zIndex for the
// order in which these markers should display on top of each other.
const beaches = [
  ["Bondi Beach", -33.890542, 151.274856, 4],
  ["Coogee Beach", -33.923036, 151.259052, 5],
  ["Cronulla Beach", -34.028249, 151.157507, 3],
  ["Manly Beach", -33.80010128657071, 151.28747820854187, 2],
  ["Maroubra Beach", -33.950198, 151.259302, 1],
];

function setMarkers(map) {
  // Adds markers to the map.
  // Marker sizes are expressed as a Size of X,Y where the origin of the image
  // (0,0) is located in the top left of the image.
  // Origins, anchor positions and coordinates of the marker increase in the X
  // direction to the right and in the Y direction down.
  const image = {
    url: "https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/full/images/beachflag.png",
    // This marker is 20 pixels wide by 32 pixels high.
    size: new google.maps.Size(20, 32),
    // The origin for this image is (0, 0).
    origin: new google.maps.Point(0, 0),
    // The anchor for this image is the base of the flagpole at (0, 32).
    anchor: new google.maps.Point(0, 32),
  };
  // Shapes define the clickable region of the icon. The type defines an HTML
  // <area> element 'poly' which traces out a polygon as a series of X,Y points.
  // The final coordinate closes the poly by connecting to the first coordinate.
  const shape = {
    coords: [1, 1, 1, 20, 18, 20, 18, 1],
    type: "poly",
  };

  for (let i = 0; i < beaches.length; i++) {
    const beach = beaches[i];

    new google.maps.Marker({
      position: { lat: beach[1], lng: beach[2] },
      map,
      icon: image,
      shape: shape,
      title: beach[0],
      zIndex: beach[3],
    });
  }
}

window.initMap = initMap;
index.js
View example

Try Sample

Converting MarkerImage objects to type Icon

Until version 3.10 of the Maps JavaScript API, complex icons were defined as MarkerImage objects. The Icon object literal was added in version 3.10, and replaces MarkerImage from version 3.11 onwards. Icon object literals support the same parameters as MarkerImage, allowing you to easily convert a MarkerImage to an Icon by removing the constructor, wrapping the previous parameters in {}'s, and adding the names of each parameter. For example: 

var image = new google.maps.MarkerImage(
    place.icon,
    new google.maps.Size(71, 71),
    new google.maps.Point(0, 0),
    new google.maps.Point(17, 34),
    new google.maps.Size(25, 25));

becomes

var image = {
  url: place.icon,
  size: new google.maps.Size(71, 71),
  origin: new google.maps.Point(0, 0),
  anchor: new google.maps.Point(17, 34),
  scaledSize: new google.maps.Size(25, 25)
};

Optimize markers

Optimization enhances performance by rendering many markers as a single static element. This is useful in cases where a large number of markers is required. By default, the Maps JavaScript API will decide whether a marker will be optimized. When there is a large number of markers, the Maps JavaScript API will attempt to render markers with optimization. Not all Markers can be optimized; in some situations, the Maps JavaScript API may need to render Markers without optimization. Disable optimized rendering for animated GIFs or PNGs, or when each marker must be rendered as a separate DOM element. The following example shows creating an optimized marker: 

var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    position: myLatlng,
    title:"Hello World!",
    optimized: true 
});

Make a marker accessible

You can make a marker accessible by adding a click listener event, and setting optimized to false. The click listener causes the marker to have button semantics, which can be accessed using keyboard navigation, screen readers, and so on. Use the title option to present accessible text for a marker.

In the following example, the first marker receives focus when tab is pressed; you can then use the arrow keys to move between markers. Press tab again to continue moving through the rest of the map controls. If a marker has an info window, you can open it by clicking the marker, or by pressing the enter key or space bar when the marker is selected. When the info window closes, focus will return to the associated marker.

TypeScript

// The following example creates five accessible and
// focusable markers.

function initMap(): void {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(
    document.getElementById("map") as HTMLElement,
    {
      zoom: 12,
      center: { lat: 34.84555, lng: -111.8035 },
    }
  );

  // Set LatLng and title text for the markers. The first marker (Boynton Pass)
  // receives the initial focus when tab is pressed. Use arrow keys to
  // move between markers; press tab again to cycle through the map controls.
  const tourStops: [google.maps.LatLngLiteral, string][] = [
    [{ lat: 34.8791806, lng: -111.8265049 }, "Boynton Pass"],
    [{ lat: 34.8559195, lng: -111.7988186 }, "Airport Mesa"],
    [{ lat: 34.832149, lng: -111.7695277 }, "Chapel of the Holy Cross"],
    [{ lat: 34.823736, lng: -111.8001857 }, "Red Rock Crossing"],
    [{ lat: 34.800326, lng: -111.7665047 }, "Bell Rock"],
  ];

  // Create an info window to share between markers.
  const infoWindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow();

  // Create the markers.
  tourStops.forEach(([position, title], i) => {
    const marker = new google.maps.Marker({
      position,
      map,
      title: `${i + 1}. ${title}`,
      label: `${i + 1}`,
      optimized: false,
    });

    // Add a click listener for each marker, and set up the info window.
    marker.addListener("click", () => {
      infoWindow.close();
      infoWindow.setContent(marker.getTitle());
      infoWindow.open(marker.getMap(), marker);
    });
  });
}

declare global {
  interface Window {
    initMap: () => void;
  }
}
window.initMap = initMap;
index.ts

JavaScript

// The following example creates five accessible and
// focusable markers.
function initMap() {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    zoom: 12,
    center: { lat: 34.84555, lng: -111.8035 },
  });
  // Set LatLng and title text for the markers. The first marker (Boynton Pass)
  // receives the initial focus when tab is pressed. Use arrow keys to
  // move between markers; press tab again to cycle through the map controls.
  const tourStops = [
    [{ lat: 34.8791806, lng: -111.8265049 }, "Boynton Pass"],
    [{ lat: 34.8559195, lng: -111.7988186 }, "Airport Mesa"],
    [{ lat: 34.832149, lng: -111.7695277 }, "Chapel of the Holy Cross"],
    [{ lat: 34.823736, lng: -111.8001857 }, "Red Rock Crossing"],
    [{ lat: 34.800326, lng: -111.7665047 }, "Bell Rock"],
  ];
  // Create an info window to share between markers.
  const infoWindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow();

  // Create the markers.
  tourStops.forEach(([position, title], i) => {
    const marker = new google.maps.Marker({
      position,
      map,
      title: `${i + 1}. ${title}`,
      label: `${i + 1}`,
      optimized: false,
    });

    // Add a click listener for each marker, and set up the info window.
    marker.addListener("click", () => {
      infoWindow.close();
      infoWindow.setContent(marker.getTitle());
      infoWindow.open(marker.getMap(), marker);
    });
  });
}

window.initMap = initMap;
index.js
View example

Try Sample

Animate a marker

You can animate markers so that they exhibit dynamic movement in a variety of different circumstances. To specify the way a marker is animated, use the marker's animation property, of type google.maps.Animation. The following Animation values are supported:

  • DROP indicates that the marker should drop from the top of the map to its final location when first placed on the map. Animation will cease once the marker comes to rest and animation will revert to null. This type of animation is usually specified during creation of the Marker.
  • BOUNCE indicates that the marker should bounce in place. A bouncing marker will continue bouncing until its animation property is explicitly set to null.

You may initiate an animation on an existing marker by calling setAnimation() on the Marker object.

TypeScript

// The following example creates a marker in Stockholm, Sweden using a DROP
// animation. Clicking on the marker will toggle the animation between a BOUNCE
// animation and no animation.

let marker: google.maps.Marker;

function initMap(): void {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(
    document.getElementById("map") as HTMLElement,
    {
      zoom: 13,
      center: { lat: 59.325, lng: 18.07 },
    }
  );

  marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    map,
    draggable: true,
    animation: google.maps.Animation.DROP,
    position: { lat: 59.327, lng: 18.067 },
  });
  marker.addListener("click", toggleBounce);
}

function toggleBounce() {
  if (marker.getAnimation() !== null) {
    marker.setAnimation(null);
  } else {
    marker.setAnimation(google.maps.Animation.BOUNCE);
  }
}

declare global {
  interface Window {
    initMap: () => void;
  }
}
window.initMap = initMap;
index.ts

JavaScript

// The following example creates a marker in Stockholm, Sweden using a DROP
// animation. Clicking on the marker will toggle the animation between a BOUNCE
// animation and no animation.
let marker;

function initMap() {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    zoom: 13,
    center: { lat: 59.325, lng: 18.07 },
  });

  marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    map,
    draggable: true,
    animation: google.maps.Animation.DROP,
    position: { lat: 59.327, lng: 18.067 },
  });
  marker.addListener("click", toggleBounce);
}

function toggleBounce() {
  if (marker.getAnimation() !== null) {
    marker.setAnimation(null);
  } else {
    marker.setAnimation(google.maps.Animation.BOUNCE);
  }
}

window.initMap = initMap;
index.js
View example

Try Sample

If you have many markers, you might not want to drop them on the map all at once. You can make use of setTimeout() to space your markers' animations using a pattern like that shown below: 

function drop() {
  for (var i =0; i < markerArray.length; i++) {
    setTimeout(function() {
      addMarkerMethod();
    }, i * 200);
  }
}

View example

Make a marker draggable

To allow users to drag a marker to a different location on the map, set draggable to true in the marker options. 

var myLatlng = new google.maps.LatLng(-25.363882,131.044922);
var mapOptions = {
  zoom: 4,
  center: myLatlng
}
var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), mapOptions);

// Place a draggable marker on the map
var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    position: myLatlng,
    map: map,
    draggable:true,
    title:"Drag me!"
});

Further Marker Customization

For a fully-customized marker, see the customized popup example.

For further extensions of the Marker class, marker clustering and management, and overlay customization, see open source libraries.