Each map feature has a location, shape, and symbol that represents one or more of its characteristics.
Features can be points, lines, or polygons.
Schools, traffic lights, crime locations, and park benches are examples of point features. Points represent objects that have discrete locations and are too small to be depicted as areas. Freeways, streets, pipelines, and waterways are examples of line features. Lines represent objects that have length but are too narrow to be depicted as areas. Polygons represent objects too large to be depicted as points or lines.