Overview

With the Maps SDK for Android, you can add maps based on Google Maps data to your application. The API automatically handles access to Google Maps servers, data downloading, map display, and response to map gestures. You can also use API calls to add markers, polygons, and overlays to a basic map, and to change the user's view of a particular map area. These objects provide additional information for map locations, and allow user interaction with the map. The API allows you to add these graphics to a map:

  • Icons anchored to specific positions on the map (Markers).
  • Sets of line segments (Polylines).
  • Enclosed segments (Polygons).
  • Bitmap graphics anchored to specific positions on the map (Ground Overlays).
  • Sets of images which are displayed on top of the base map tiles (Tile Overlays).

Audience

This documentation is designed for people familiar with Android development and object-oriented programming concepts. You should also be familiar with Google Maps from a user's point of view.

This conceptual documentation is designed to let you quickly start exploring and developing applications with the Maps SDK for Android. You may also wish to refer to the reference documentation for specific details of classes and methods.

Accessibility

The Maps SDK for Android includes built-in support for accessibility. This section contains a high-level summary of the accessibility features that are automatically enabled for any application using the API.

When users enable the TalkBack accessibility feature on their mobile devices, each single swipe across the screen moves the focus from one UI element to the next. (An alternative to single swiping is to explore UI elements by dragging a finger over the interface.) As a UI element comes into focus, TalkBack reads out the name of the element. If the user double-taps anywhere on the screen, the focused action is performed.

For guidance on enhancing the accessibility of your Android app, refer to the Android accessibility documentation. In particular, it's good practice to add an announcement describing the map. To specify the text of the announcement, call setContentDescription() on the view.