geoviz is an R package for thematic mapping. As its name suggests, it’s an R wrapper around the geoviz JavaScript library, itself based on the d3.js ecosystem ported by Mike Bostock. Like the original javascript library, the package can be used to create a wide range of interactive, zoomable vector maps, taking advantage of d3’s many features: proportional symbols, pictograms, typologies, choropleth maps, spikes, tiles, Dorling cartograms, etc. It can also be used to create pretty static vectorial maps in SVG format, suitable for editorial cartography.

• The geoviz package is an R wrapper around the geoviz JavaScript library via a htmlwidget. Its development follows the evolution of the library. The parameter names are the same. You can therefore refer to the JavaScript geoviz documentation here.

• geoviz is not intended to compete with other mapping packages in R, such as mapsf or tmap.

• Since it’s based on d3.js, the philosophy behind this package is completely different as other R mapping packages. Map parameters use svg attributes rather than the usual R parameters. Thus, strokeWidth is used rather than lwd, fill rather than col, stroke rather than border, etc.

• geoviz is not designed to handle voluminous datasets. It is suitable for light, generalized basemaps.

• geoviz is designed to work with geographic data in wgs84 (not projected). Geometries are then projected on the fly using the create() function. Unlike other R packages based on sf, the projections used come from the d3.js ecosystem (d3-geo, d3-geo-projection & d3-geo-polygon).

• Maps generated by geoviz are zoomable. Two types of zoom are available. The classic type (pan and zoom) and the “versor” type for creating interactive globes.

• Maps created with geoviz are interactive. It is therefore possible to create tooltips to access information contained in geographic objects.

• Many different types of maps are available. The types can be combined with each other and are highly customizable.