A map is a symbolic representation of selected characteristics of a place, usually drawn on a flat surface. It emphasizes relationships between elements of some space, such as objects, regions, or themes. Maps can be static, fixed to paper or some other durable medium, or dynamic and interactive. Although most commonly used to depict geography, maps may represent any space, real or fictional, without regard to context or scale, such as in brain mapping, DNA mapping, or computer network topology mapping. The space being mapped may be two-dimensional, such as the surface of the earth, three-dimensional, such as the interior of the earth, or even more abstract spaces of any dimension, such as arise in modeling phenomena having many independent variables.

Maps can be used for a variety of purposes, such as navigation, comparing relative distances, sizes, or locations, showing attributes about locations, and displaying specific locations of individual features. They use symbols, line styles, and colors to represent geographic features and usually contain a legend that explains what the different symbols represent. Typically, a map also includes a scale so that the real-world sizes and distances can be inferred from the map.

The design and production of maps is a craft that has developed over thousands of years, from clay tablets to Geographic information systems. As a form of design, particularly closely related to graphic design, map making incorporates scientific knowledge about how maps are used, integrated with principles of artistic expression, to create an aesthetically attractive product that carries an aura of authority.