Discover the Power of Open-Source Mapping with Leaflet
Are you tired of relying on paid mapping services like Google Maps and MapBox? Look no further than Leaflet, a lightweight, open-source mapping library that utilizes OpenStreetMap, a free editable geographic database. With Leaflet, you can create stunning maps without breaking the bank.
Getting Started with React Leaflet
To get started, create a new React app and install the necessary dependencies, including react-leaflet and leaflet. Make sure to update your package.json file to prevent errors. Once you’ve set up your project, you’re ready to render your map.
Rendering the Map
To display the map correctly, you’ll need to add some CSS to your project. You can either include the CSS link tag in your head or copy and paste the CSS directly into your project. Don’t forget to set the width and height of the.leaflet-container div, otherwise, your map won’t be visible.
Adding Markers with Custom Icons
To add markers to your map, you’ll need some data. For this example, we’ll use data from the city of Ottawa, featuring the locations of skateboard parks in the area. Load the data locally from a JSON file and map through it inside the MapContainer component, returning a Marker component for each park location. You can customize the marker icons using the Icon component from leaflet.
Displaying Map Popups
To display popups on the map, track which skatepark the user clicks on and show a popup with information about the selected park. The Popup component allows you to pass HTML and can be styled using CSS.
Loading Remote Data with SWR
Using SWR, you can load remote data from an API endpoint and display it on the map. For this example, we’ll use crime data provided by the UK police. Once you have the data, displaying it on the map is no different from displaying local data.
The Benefits of Leaflet
Leaflet is an extremely lightweight library, coming in at just under 40kb of JavaScript. It’s used by industry giants such as GitHub, Pinterest, and Etsy, and is a fantastic open-source and free mapping alternative to Google Maps and MapBox. With Leaflet, you can create stunning maps without breaking the bank or requiring an API key.