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You can add objects to the map to designate points, lines, areas, or collections
of objects. The Photorealistic 3D Maps in Maps JavaScript API calls these objects overlays. Overlays are
tied to geographic coordinates, so they move when you drag or zoom the
map.
Overlay types
The Photorealistic 3D Maps in Maps JavaScript API supports several different types of overlays that you
can add programmatically:
A popover is a special
kind of overlay for displaying content (usually text or images) at a given
location on a map. Popovers are analogous to
Info windows in the
Maps JavaScript API.
Lines on the map are displayed using
polylines,
represented as an ordered sequence of points connected by line segments.
Areas of arbitrary shape on the map are displayed using
polygons.
Like polylines, polygons are an ordered sequence of locations. Unlike
polylines, polygons define a region which they enclose.
Models are gLTF resources
that are rendered on the map as 3D shapes.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-26 UTC."],[],[],null,["\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n| This product or feature is in Preview (pre-GA). Pre-GA products and features might have limited support, and changes to pre-GA products and features might not be compatible with other pre-GA versions. Pre-GA Offerings are covered by the [Google\n| Maps Platform Service Specific Terms](https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/terms/maps-service-terms). For more information, see the [launch stage\n| descriptions](/maps/launch-stages).\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nYou can add objects to the map to designate points, lines, areas, or collections\nof objects. The Photorealistic 3D Maps in Maps JavaScript API calls these objects overlays. Overlays are\ntied to geographic coordinates, so they move when you drag or zoom the\nmap.\n\nOverlay types\n\nThe Photorealistic 3D Maps in Maps JavaScript API supports several different types of overlays that you\ncan add programmatically:\n\n- A **[popover](/maps/documentation/javascript/3d/popovers)** is a special kind of overlay for displaying content (usually text or images) at a given location on a map. Popovers are analogous to [Info windows](/maps/documentation/javascript/infowindows) in the Maps JavaScript API.\n- Lines on the map are displayed using **[polylines](/maps/documentation/javascript/3d/shapes-lines#polylines)**, represented as an ordered sequence of points connected by line segments.\n- Areas of arbitrary shape on the map are displayed using **[polygons](/maps/documentation/javascript/3d/shapes-lines#polygons)**. Like polylines, polygons are an ordered sequence of locations. Unlike polylines, polygons define a region which they enclose.\n- **[Models](/maps/documentation/javascript/3d/models)** are gLTF resources that are rendered on the map as 3D shapes."]]
