If you have ever tried displaying a single map with multiple location types, you know how quickly things can become overwhelming. A map can become crowded with dozens of markers (each representing different categories like restaurants, hotels, parking lots) which can confuse your visitors rather than help them. Without a clear way to distinguish between marker types or the ability to filter what they are seeing, users are possibly left squinting at a cluttered map trying to make sense of everything.
This is where category legends and filtering become essential for your map. A well designed legend acts as a visual key helping visitors instantly understand what each marker or shape represents. When you pair the category legend with category filtering, you are able to give users control over their experience, allowing them to only show information that is relevant for them. Want just the Italian restaurants and ignore everything else? Done.
Whether you are simply building a store locator or needing to visualize regional data with custom shapes, mastering category legends and filtering will transform your map from confusing into an intuitive, user-friendly tool.
Setting up Categories in WP Go Maps
WP Go Maps offers an easy to use category system with their Pro Add-on.
Step 1:
Navigate to WP Go Maps -> Categories
Step 2:
Click the ‘+’ icon and click ‘New Category’ to add your category
Step 3:
Set up your Category and click ‘Save’
Adding categories to your markers
To assign a category to a marker, navigate to WP Go Maps -> Maps -> Edit -> Markers -> Edit your desired marker.
Select the desired category for the marker
Adding categories to your Shapes
Adding/editing shapes to assign categories to them, can be done in the same way as if done for a marker.
Adding legends to your map
Adding legends to your map is made simple with WP Go Maps.
Simply navigate to WP Go Maps -> Maps -> Settings -> Legends and enable Category Legends
Additionally, you can select a number of different placement options for the legend. In the example below, we have selected ‘Bottom Right’.
Enabling filtering
With WP Go Maps, you can either add the category filter with the Store Locator or the Marker Listing.
Enabling filtering with your Store Locator
To enable the Category filter on the Store locator, please navigate as follows:
WP Go Maps -> Maps -> Settings -> Store Locator -> Advanced -> Allow Category Selection
Use Category Filter with your Marker listing
To enable the Category filter on the marker listing, please navigate as follows:
WP Go Maps -> maps -> Settings -> Marker Listing -> Filtering -> Category Filter
The example below shows the category placement at the top of the map.
Once this is complete, enable your shape filtering:
Maps -> Edit your map -> Settings -> Behaviour -> Shapes -> Enable Shape Filtering
The example below shows a category filter at the top of the map.
Best Practices & Tips
- Keep category names clear and concise
- Use distinct colors/icons for each category
- Don’t create too many categories
- Consider mobile users when positioning legends
Conclusion
Category legends and filtering are often overlooked features, however, they make a dramatic difference in how visitors interact with your maps. By giving users the ability to control what they see, you are transforming a potentially overwhelming experience into an intuitive, user-driven tool.
As these features work together seamlessly, the system does the heavy lifting for you. Your visitors get a cleaner and more professional experience, and you get a map that actually serves its purpose rather than causing confusion.
Ready to start organizing your map data? Start categorizing your shapes and markers today, and watch your maps turn from static displays into dynamic and interactive experiences your visitors will actually want to use.