> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.mapbox.com/help/llms.txt)

# projection

**Projections** are methods of transforming the [coordinates](https://docs.mapbox.com/help/glossary/lat-lon/) of locations on a three-dimensional planet to a two-dimensional plane.

Mapbox GL JS supports displaying maps in the following projections:

-   [**Globe**](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/#globe): A view of Earth from space
-   **Equal-area projections**: Relative size of areas is accurate, but shapes are distorted
    -   [Equal Earth](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/#equal-earth)
    -   [Albers](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/#albers)
-   **Conformal projections**: Shapes and angles are accurate, but sizes are distorted
    -   [Web Mercator](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/#mercator), the default
    -   [Lambert conformal conic](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/#lambert-conformal-conic)
-   **Compromise projections**: A balance of size and shape distortion
    
    -   [Winkel tripel](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/#winkel-tripel) - [Natural Earth](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/#natural-earth)
    
    -   [Equirectangular](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/#equirectangular)

Learn more about the uses of each in the [Mapbox GL JS projection guide](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/).

Mapbox tools accept coordinate inputs as follows:

-   [Mapbox Tiling Service](https://docs.mapbox.com/api/maps/mapbox-tiling-service/#create-a-tileset-source) and Mapbox SDKs for mobile and web accept GeoJSON that follows the GeoJSON standard for a geographic coordinate reference system [equivalent to OGC:CRS84](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7946#section-4), using the WGS84 datum, decimal degrees, and longitude and latitude units (in that order).
-   The [Mapbox Uploads API](https://docs.mapbox.com/api/maps/uploads/#uploads-api-restrictions-and-limits) accepts data inputs in a variety of formats and projections.

> **Note: Note on EPSG:4326**
> 
> Later versions of the [EPSG:4326](https://epsg.io/4326) coordinate reference system order coordinates as `latitude,longitude`, which is the reverse order of coordinates in OGC:CRS84. Most Mapbox upload tools require coordinates ordered as `longitude,latitude`.

**Related resources:**

-   [Uploading data getting started guide](https://docs.mapbox.com/help/getting-started/map-developer-journey/data-guide/)
-   [Adaptive projections in Mapbox GL JS](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/guides/projections/)
-   [Example: Use different map projections for web maps](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/example/projections/)
-   [Map projection Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map_projection)
-   [Web Mercator Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercator_projection)