Cylindrical projections are a type of map projection where the Earth's surface is projected onto a cylinder. This method involves wrapping a cylinder around the globe and projecting the features of the Earth onto the cylinder's surface. When the cylinder is unwrapped, it creates a flat map. Common examples include the Mercator projection, which is widely used for navigation. These projections maintain straight lines and angles, making them useful for certain applications. However, they can distort areas, especially near the poles, leading to inaccuracies in size and shape. Despite this, cylindrical projections are popular for their simplicity and ease of use in various mapping tasks.