# New zoom freezing feature for Geohash plugin

[Grab](https://yomu.fyi/company/grab) · Maria Mitisor · Feb 21, 2023

**Type:** Problem & solution

## Summary

Grab introduced a zoom freeze capability to its Geohash plugin for the Java OpenStreetMap Editor (JOSM). Previously, zooming in or out forced the plugin to calculate and render new geohashes automatically, causing visual clutter when users needed to focus on a specific region. The updated interface introduces a toggle label allowing editors to switch between enabling and disabling zoom freezing. While frozen, the current geohash boundaries remain locked during map scaling, and options to show smaller or larger geohashes are disabled. Disabling the feature instantly updates the display with the appropriate geohash subdivisions for the current zoom level.

## Context

Users of the Geohash JOSM plugin were previously unable to prevent new geohashes from rendering every time they zoomed in or out, which cluttered the map when subdivisions were not needed.

## Approach / What changed

Added a toggle control in the Geohash JOSM plugin that freezes the current geohashes on the map during zoom changes and temporarily disables the options to display larger or smaller geohashes.

## Takeaways

- Geohash provides unique alphanumeric identifiers for distinct geographical regions within the JOSM mapping environment.
- Enabling zoom freeze locks geohashes in place during zooming and disables the options to display larger or smaller geohashes.
- Users must update the Geohash JOSM plugin to access the zoom freeze toggle feature.

**Tags:** [Java](https://yomu.fyi/topic/java), [Open Source](https://yomu.fyi/topic/open-source)

[Read original post](https://engineering.grab.com/geohash-plugin)