Google has released a small but important upgrade to Google Maps, which allows you to measure the exact distance between two or more points on the map.
The internet giant announced the new feature, which is currently limited to the desktop version of Maps, in an announcement on its Google+ page.
Previously, Google Maps displayed distances when users searched for directions, but it only showed the distance along the planned route, without the exact distance between the starting point and the final destination. For example, you might search for directions to a restaurant that is exactly 3 miles away (if you draw a straight line), but the route that Google provides driving directions to could actually be 3.5 miles.
Now, Maps users on desktop can measure the exact distance between two or more points – even if there is no road, or walking or driving capability – a feature that will be especially useful for planning jogging and cycling routes on a map.
To start using the new distance measurement tool, right-click anywhere on your map and select “measure distance.” Then, click another point on the map to create a path, and you’ll see the distance between the selected points. You can also select multiple points to measure distances between several different places. Finally, you can see the total distance between your points in the Maps search bar in the top-left corner of the page.
