AI-generated Key Takeaways

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• The Maps JavaScript API offers avisualization library with aHeatmapLayer class for visualizing data intensity at geographical points.

• You can find a practical example of using theHeatmapLayer in the earthquake mapping tutorial, which demonstrates plotting earthquake locations and intensity.

• To utilize thevisualization library's functionalities, load it separately using thelibraries parameter in the Maps JavaScript API bootstrap URL, specifyingvisualization as the desired library.

Deprecated: The Heatmap Layer functionality in the Maps JavaScript API will no longer be supported. This API was deprecated in May 2025 and will be made unavailable in a later version of the Maps JavaScript API, releasing in May 2026. As a replacement for the Heatmap Layer, consider using third-party library integrations like deck.gl, which offers a HeatmapLayer implementation. You can find more information in thedeck.gl documentation.

Overview

The Maps JavaScript API uses libraries to provide supplementalfeatures. Thevisualization library includes theHeatmapLayer class, which you can use to visualize dataintensity at geographical points.

For example, theearthquake mapping tutorial uses theHeatMapLayerclass to plot earthquake locations and intensity, and walks you step by stepthrough the code.

Use the library

The visualization library is a self-contained library, separate from the mainMaps JavaScript API code. To use the functionality containedwithin this library, you must first load it using thelibraries parameter inthe Maps JavaScript API bootstrap URL:

<script async    src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=YOUR_API_KEY&loading=async&libraries=visualization&callback=initMap"></script>