"Google Map Pack" and "Google Maps Pack" - people search both, and Google's help documentation isn't consistent about it either. They're the same feature. Here's what it actually is, why the naming is confusing, and how it works for a London, Ontario search.
Why there are so many names for the same thing
The feature is the block of three local business listings, shown alongside a small map, that Google displays above the standard organic results for a local search. It's officially tied to "Google Maps" data, which is likely why "Maps Pack" caught on as a phrasing - but "Map Pack" (singular) is the more common term in SEO writing and in Google's own occasional references. You'll also see it called the 3-pack, the local pack, or the local 3-pack. All of these describe the exact same thing.
A quick history: why 3 and not more
Until 2015, Google showed 7 local results in what was then called the "7-pack." Google reduced this to the current 3-result format to keep the page from being dominated by local listings above the fold, especially on mobile. The reduction made competition for those 3 spots considerably tighter - a business that would have easily made a 7-pack in 2014 might miss the cut entirely in today's 3-result format.
How the Map Pack actually works
When someone searches with local intent - either explicitly ("plumber near me") or implicitly (a search Google interprets as having local relevance, like "family lawyer London Ontario") - Google evaluates local businesses using relevance, distance, and prominence, and surfaces the top 3 in this special block, complete with ratings, hours, and a "Directions" button. Our full Map Pack SEO guide breaks down each of those three ranking factors and how to compete for a spot.
Mobile vs desktop differences
The core three-listing format stays consistent across devices, but the presentation shifts - on mobile, the map itself is often larger and more prominent, reflecting how much local search happens on phones (someone searching for a nearby business while out and about, rather than researching from a desktop). This makes mobile-friendly profile elements - accurate hours, quick-tap call buttons, clear photos - especially important.
Map Pack vs the Google Maps app
It's worth distinguishing the Map Pack (the 3-result block on a regular Google Search results page) from search results inside the standalone Google Maps app. Both pull from the same underlying Google Business Profile data and are influenced by similar ranking factors, but they're technically separate surfaces, and a business's position can differ slightly between the two.
Whatever term you search for it under, getting into this block is one of the highest-value things a London business can do for visibility. If you're not sure where your business currently stands, a free SEO audit includes a full check of your current Map Pack position, and our Local SEO service covers the work to get you there.