Map projections allow geographic information on the spherical Earth to be represented on a flat surface like a map. There are many types of map projections that preserve different spatial properties through various techniques. The key types are cylindrical, conic, and planar/azimuthal projections which result from projecting graticules from a globe onto developable surfaces like cylinders, cones, or planes. Properties like area, shape, direction, and distance are differently preserved depending on the specific projection used.