Maps

Maps play a major part in the Zelda series. Without one some games would be almost unplayable.

World Maps
World Map, Overworld Map, and Field Maps all are names used to refer to the basic map of the gameland. In general it displays Link's location in the world. Later the series added warp destinations to appear on the map when activated.  Link's Awakening added a function that would recall speeches by the owl while browsing the map, in addition to the location names. Seldom times, important places will be marked on the map by other game characters.

Beginning with Link's Awakening, the map is obscured until 'unlocked' by visiting the locations. Majora's Mask was the only game in which portions of the map were purchasable.

Dungeon Maps
Dungeon maps are very common, but very useful items that can be found in nearly every dungeon in the Zelda series. They are found in large chests, or lying on the ground. Once obtained, a dungeon map will allow Link to see every room of every floor in the dungeon it was found in, with the illuminated rooms showing where he has already visited. Most often the mapscreen will automatically fill in rooms visited even before obtaining the dungeon map.