A road map is a type of navigational map that primarily displays roads and transport links rather than natural geographical information. It is a visual representation of strategic plans that ties together the "why" (strategy), the "what" (work needed to achieve goals), and the "when" (timeline for completion). Roadmaps can be used for various purposes, such as product development, marketing, HR, and project management. They can vary in complexity, from a simple schematic map used to show how to get to a single specific destination to a complex electronic map that layers together many different types of maps and information. Road maps often include political boundaries, labels, and points of interest, such as prominent businesses or buildings, tourism sites, parks and recreational facilities, hotels and restaurants, as well as airports and train stations.

In addition to navigational road maps, there are also strategic roadmaps that are used for project planning and management. These roadmaps are a high-level, easy-to-understand, strategic tool that places a projects goals and major deliverables (tasks, milestones) on a timeline. They are not detailed documents that capture all of a plans details, but rather a strategic document that defines a goal or desired outcome and includes the major steps or milestones needed to reach it.

Overall, a road map is a communication tool that can smooth alignment, improve strategic organization, and centralize team collaboration. It is a visual way to quickly communicate a plan or strategy and give a birds-eye view of everything thats happening at a team or company.