Maps SDK v4 Release Notes

Maps v4.2.1

March 2025

• IMPROVED Added a new method to log whether content layers have been successfully loaded. A content.add event is displayed in the console to verify the layer has been added.
• FIXED Fixed a Points of Interest (POI) console error in the Map Menus add-on.

Maps v4.2.0

February 2025

• IMPROVED Improved the display of details in Places pop-ups.

• IMPROVED Added turn restrictions to the Truck Restrictions map layer.

• IMPROVED The PlaceId parameter can now be included in route path and route reports API calls. This allows for routing to your company’s private (custom) places created in ContentTools or with the Places API.

• FIXED Fixed the display of traffic flow in the Oceania region so it does not overlap other icons.

• FIXED Fixed console errors when clicking certain truck restriction icons.

Maps v4.1.0

November 2024

• IMPROVED When you drag and drop the route path on the map to create a new stop to a Place (custom or public), the placeId of that place is now passed in routePath and routeReport requests.

Maps v4.0.0

October 2024

• NEW JavaScript Maps SDK v4 includes a wide range of new features and updates to improve performance, customization, and user interaction with maps embedded in your application.

Key updates for Maps v4 include:

Speed and performance

Maps v4 offers high-performance vector tiles with customizable styles and layers. Optimized for performance, including efficient rendering and data management, Maps v4 supports large datasets and smooth interactions. In addition, the new version:

• IMPROVED Implements efficient caching strategies for tiles to avoid reloading and rendering tiles that have already been processed. This reduces redundant work and speeds up map rendering.
• IMPROVED Prioritizes the loading and rendering of tiles based on the current view and zoom level. Tiles that are currently visible or likely to be visible soon are loaded first, enhancing responsiveness.
• IMPROVED Implements throttling techniques to manage high-frequency events more efficiently, ensuring that the map remains responsive under heavy user interaction.
• IMPROVED Employs asynchronous loading of map resources (such as tiles and data) to avoid blocking the main rendering thread and ensure a responsive user interface.
• IMPROVED Uses debounced event listeners to limit the frequency of event handling (e.g., during panning or zooming), reducing the computational load and improving responsiveness.
• IMPROVED Delays the loading of non-essential resources until they are needed, which helps in managing initial load times and improving perceived performance.
• IMPROVED Uses texture atlases to group multiple images into a single texture, reducing the number of texture bindings and state changes during rendering.

Customization

The new version provides support for various layer types including vector, raster, and GeoJSON layers. You can control the visibility and styling of these layers. With Maps v4, you can:

• IMPROVED Add custom markers and icons, which can be dynamically controlled.
• IMPROVED Define map styles using JSON, similar to Maps v3. This includes detailed control over how map features are rendered.
• NEW Render 3D terrain and building extrusions, adding depth and realism to the map.
• NEW Integrate with other open-source mapping tools and services.

User experience

Speed and rendering improvements enhance user experience by limiting any delay before the map appears in the app. In addition, Maps v4:

• IMPROVED Includes interactive capabilities like click and hover events. You can attach custom event handlers to map features.
• IMPROVED Improves support for keyboard navigation and accessibility features.
• IMPROVED Supports smooth transitions and animations for map features and layers compared to v3 as Maps v4 has WEB GL2 support, which is not available in v3.

Upgrading to v4

While v4 is backwards compatible with v3, there are differences that may require slight changes in your implementation.