What is the primary purpose of a conformal projection?

A conformal projection is designed to preserve shape across the map. In a conformal projection, angles between lines are maintained, ensuring that small areas of the map retain their local shapes accurately. This is particularly important for navigation, meteorology, and areas where accurate representation of geometric shapes is crucial.

Because of this characteristic, a conformal projection is often chosen for applications that require accurate depiction of land forms, such as in topographic maps. While these projections can accurately represent shapes, they may distort area, distance, and direction, especially at larger scales or towards the edges of the map. Understanding this aspect helps users choose the right projection based on the priorities of their mapping needs.