# How to decide between radius and zoom for a static map
<a name="choose-radius-vs-zoom"></a>

In this topic, you will learn how to choose between using `radius` or `zoom` when generating static maps with Amazon Location Service. The `radius` parameter provides more precise control over the area of coverage, making it ideal for customer-facing applications where you know the exact coverage area. The `zoom` parameter is better suited for geospatial analysis when you want to adjust the level of detail displayed.

## With radius
<a name="with-radius"></a>

In this example, you will create a map image of Sri Lanka using the `radius` parameter with a center location.

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#### [ Request URL ]

```
https://maps.geo.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/v2/static/map?style=Satellite&width=700&height=700&center=80.60596,7.76671&radius=235000&scale-unit=KilometersMiles&key=API_KEY
```

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#### [ Response image ]

![\[Satellite view of Sri Lanka, showing the teardrop-shaped island nation surrounded by ocean.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/location/latest/developerguide/images/static-radius.png)


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## With zoom
<a name="with-zoom"></a>

In this example, you will create a map image of Sri Lanka using the `zoom` parameter with a center location.

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#### [ Request URL ]

```
https://maps.geo.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/v2/static/map?style=Satellite&width=700&height=700&zoom=8&center=80.60596,7.76671&scale-unit=KilometersMiles&key=API_KEY
```

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#### [ Response image ]

![\[Satellite view of Sri Lanka, showing the teardrop-shaped island nation surrounded by ocean.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/location/latest/developerguide/images/static-zoom.png)


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