# Options

To dictate what the map can/should do, regardless of its contents, it needs some guidance!

It provides options that can be categorized into three main parts:

* [Initial positioning](#initial-positioning)\
  Defines the location of the map when it is first loaded
* [Permanent rules](#permanent-rules)\
  Defines restrictions that last throughout the map's lifetime
* [Event handling](https://docs.fleaflet.dev/v5/usage/event-handling)\
  Defines methods that are called on specific map events

{% embed url="<https://pub.dev/documentation/flutter_map/latest/flutter_map/MapOptions-class.html>" %}

## Initial Positioning

One part of `MapOptions` responsibilities is to define how the map should be positioned when first loaded. There's two ways to do this (that are incompatible):

* `center` & `zoom`\
  Defines the center coordinates of the map and a zoom level
* `bounds`\
  Defines an area with two/four coordinates that the viewport should fit to

It is possible to also set the map's `rotation` in degrees, if you don't want it North (0°) facing initially.

{% hint style="info" %}
Changing these properties after the map has already been built for the first time will have no effect: they only apply on initialisation.

To control the map programatically, use a `MapController`: [controller](https://docs.fleaflet.dev/v5/usage/controller "mention").
{% endhint %}

## Permanent Rules

One part of `MapOptions` responsibilities is to define the restrictions and limitations of the map and what users can/cannot do with it.

You should check [all the available options](https://pub.dev/documentation/flutter_map/latest/flutter_map/MapOptions-class.html), but these are recommended for most maps:

* `maxZoom` (and `minZoom`)\
  Limits how far the map can be zoomed by the user, to avoid showing empty tiles
* `maxBounds`\
  Limits how far the map can be moved by the user to a coordinate-based boundary
* `interactiveFlags` - see [`InteractiveFlag`](https://pub.dev/documentation/flutter_map/latest/flutter_map.plugin_api/InteractiveFlag-class.html) for available options\
  Limits what methods the user can interact with the map through (for example, preventing rotation)
* `keepAlive`\
  If `FlutterMap` is located inside a `PageView`, `ListView` or another complex lazy layout, set this `true` to prevent the map from resetting to the [#initial-positioning](#initial-positioning "mention") on rebuild

{% hint style="success" %}
Instead of `maxZoom` (or in addition to), consider setting `maxNativeZoom` per `TileLayer` instead, to allow tiles to scale (and lose quality) on the final zoom level, instead of setting a hard limit.
{% endhint %}

## Event Handling

{% content-ref url="event-handling" %}
[event-handling](https://docs.fleaflet.dev/v5/usage/event-handling)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.fleaflet.dev/v5/usage/options.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.