Which projection is commonly used for world maps?

The Mercator projection is commonly used for world maps due to its unique property of maintaining straight angles, which makes it particularly useful for navigation and maritime purposes. This cylindrical projection allows for the representation of lines of constant compass bearing (rhumb lines) as straight lines, facilitating travel and course plotting.

While the Mercator projection significantly distorts area, especially near the poles, its ability to preserve angles is advantageous for certain applications. This projection is widely recognized and has been extensively used in textbooks and atlases, making it a familiar choice for general world maps.

In contrast, the Robinson projection is designed to provide a more visually appealing depiction of the Earth, balancing size and shape distortion but is less suitable for mathematical precision in navigation. The Albers projection is better suited for representing areas, particularly in specific regions like the United States, and the Lambert conformal conic projection is preferred for aeronautical charts as it preserves angles well but is more suitable for regions that are elongated east-west. Thus, the choice of projections varies based on the specific needs of the map being created, with the Mercator projection often being the default for general world maps.