1. the rectangular limits (xmin,ymin and xmax,ymax) of the area of the earth's surface displayed —note 1. map extent is specified in the coordinate system of the geographic data set used —note 2. typically, the extent of the geographic database (or a portion of it defined by zoomed-in view) defines the map extent for display 2. the geographic extent of a geographic data set specified by the minimum bounding rectangle, i.e., xmin,ymin and xmax,ymax —see line-in-polygon This definition last updated 10/26/2008