# Feature selection tool

The Feature Selection tool allows you to apply a mask to the map, filtering out the features that lie outside of it. This filtering also affects the data showed in widgets, which turns the Feature Selection tool into a powerful device to quickly find insights in your geospatial data.

This guide describes how to start using this fantastic tool and get the most out of your maps.

You can explore this new tool by clicking on the button on the upper right corner of the map.

<figure><img src="/files/JL3lzxGbNnBT75oqO2U4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

There are different selection modes supporting different kinds of shape. The mode selected by default is `Polygon`.

<figure><img src="/files/6KyVlVYuPBSjc65P5x0q" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Click on one of the selection modes to activate the tool and start drawing and filtering. The blue icon means that the tool is activated.

<figure><img src="/files/hfLstj7Xe4FmqlQaTmMP" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The selection tool operates on the visible layers on the map, and it is used by clicking and dragging to trace the vertices of a selection.

<figure><img src="/files/li7UyEt97PBVqcoXgAIJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

After tracing the shape of your mask, double click to stop drawing.

<figure><img src="/files/9U7nU4BNPmX5VS93gg5Z" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Once the mask has been drawn, it can be selected and modified by adding/removing/moving vertices or by moving the shape to a new location. To perform one of these actions, the shape has to be in edit mode by clicking on *Edit Mask*.

<figure><img src="/files/EkorQS3UTlh3Ugzx7aFu" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Once in editing mode, click on the mask and it will turn blue. The different vertices will also appear so that they can be modified or moved to a different location.

<figure><img src="/files/dDgI3gYsGXQhOaYxO2OV" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

By default the mask is active but it can be disabled temporarily by clicking on *Clear mask* and re-enabled again by clicking on *Apply mask*. You can also click on the “X” to remove it permanently.

<figure><img src="/files/AeBhjGZDw6TsV0Dq7jWY" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/Q2WTHzZCObXMQVjXNZoA" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Some editing tips for working with the tool:

* Add a vertex with each click.
* Delete a vertex by clicking on an existing one.
* To move a vertex, click and drag it.
* To move your mask to another location, click on it and drag it around the map.
  {% endhint %}

The following examples give a small demonstration of how to use the tool and how it easily allows you to explore your data and obtain information in a different way and in just a few steps.

<figure><img src="/files/ca5Zzt4Id0F75YDoZIrp" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/gjtTdrQTxJzZFshmAs9Z" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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