# Layers Overview

Layers provide an easy way to present meaningful information to the end user. A **RadMap** control may have many layers each responsible for a different part of the presentation logic. The layer object represents a collection holding **MapVisualElements**. The **RadMap.Layers** property is responsible for exposing the layers allowing easy access and manipulation.

> caption Figure 1: Map Layers

![WinForms RadMap Map Layers](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/9e8e2544c261d0bb5addb9a294b27e8b/map-features-layers-overview001.png)

The example below  uses the [BingRestMapProvider](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/map/providers/bingmaps/bingrestmapprovider) and adds pin and label elements to a couple of layers defined within the **RadMap** control.

#### Setup Layers

```C#
private void SetupLayers()
{
    MapLayer easternLayer = new MapLayer("Eastern");
    this.radMap1.Layers.Add(easternLayer);
    MapLayer westernLayer = new MapLayer("Western");
    this.radMap1.Layers.Add(westernLayer);
}
```

```VB.NET
Private Sub SetupLayers()
    Dim easternLayer As New MapLayer("Eastern")
    Me.RadMap1.Layers.Add(easternLayer)
    Dim westernLayer As New MapLayer("Western")
    Me.RadMap1.Layers.Add(westernLayer)
End Sub
```

#### Setup Data

```C#
private void SetupData()
{
    MapPin element = new MapPin(new PointG(34.0140562, -118.2880489));
    element.Text = "Los Angeles";
    element.BackColor = Color.Red;
    this.radMap1.Layers["Western"].Add(element);

    element = new MapPin(new PointG(47.5951518, -122.3316280));
    element.Text = "Seattle";
    element.BackColor = Color.Red;
    this.radMap1.Layers["Western"].Add(element);

    element = new MapPin(new PointG(29.4270198, -98.43744520));
    element.Text = "San Antonio";
    element.BackColor = Color.Red;
    this.radMap1.Layers["Western"].Add(element);

    element = new MapPin(new PointG(41.8806908, -87.67416460));
    element.Text = "Chicago";
    element.BackColor = Color.Blue;
    this.radMap1.Layers["Eastern"].Add(element);

    element = new MapPin(new PointG(40.8296426, -73.92636320));
    element.Text = "New York";
    element.BackColor = Color.Blue;
    this.radMap1.Layers["Eastern"].Add(element);

    element = new MapPin(new PointG(42.3665137, -71.06160420));
    element.Text = "Boston";
    element.BackColor = Color.Blue;
    this.radMap1.Layers["Eastern"].Add(element);

    MapLabel westernLabel = new MapLabel(new PointG(36.251282d, -111.593335d), "Western")
    {
        BackColor = Color.FromArgb(122, 255, 0, 0)
    };

    MapLabel easternLabel = new MapLabel(new PointG(38.790412d, -81.000594d), "Eastern")
    {
        BackColor = Color.FromArgb(122, 0, 0, 255)
    };

    this.radMap1.Layers["Western"].Add(westernLabel);
    this.radMap1.Layers["Eastern"].Add(easternLabel);
}
```

```VB.NET
Private Sub SetupData()
    Dim element As New MapPin(New PointG(34.0140562, -118.2880489))
    element.Text = "Los Angeles"
    element.BackColor = Color.Red
    Me.RadMap1.Layers("Western").Add(element)

    element = New MapPin(New PointG(47.5951518, -122.331628))
    element.Text = "Seattle"
    element.BackColor = Color.Red
    Me.RadMap1.Layers("Western").Add(element)

    element = New MapPin(New PointG(29.4270198, -98.4374452))
    element.Text = "San Antonio"
    element.BackColor = Color.Red
    Me.RadMap1.Layers("Western").Add(element)

    element = New MapPin(New PointG(41.8806908, -87.6741646))
    element.Text = "Chicago"
    element.BackColor = Color.Blue
    Me.RadMap1.Layers("Eastern").Add(element)

    element = New MapPin(New PointG(40.8296426, -73.9263632))
    element.Text = "New York"
    element.BackColor = Color.Blue
    Me.RadMap1.Layers("Eastern").Add(element)

    element = New MapPin(New PointG(42.3665137, -71.0616042))
    element.Text = "Boston"
    element.BackColor = Color.Blue
    Me.RadMap1.Layers("Eastern").Add(element)

    Dim westernLabel As New MapLabel(New PointG(36.251282, -111.593335), "Western") With {
         .BackColor = Color.FromArgb(122, 255, 0, 0)
    }

    Dim easternLabel As New MapLabel(New PointG(38.790412, -81.000594), "Eastern") With {
         .BackColor = Color.FromArgb(122, 0, 0, 255)
    }

    Me.RadMap1.Layers("Western").Add(westernLabel)
    Me.RadMap1.Layers("Eastern").Add(easternLabel)
End Sub
```

## See Also

* [Colorization](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/map/features/layers/colorization)
* [Clusterization](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/map/features/layers/clusterization)