MarkerSets

MarkerSets are collections of markers used to annotate data across various domains. Each marker represents a labeled point or feature and typically includes an identifier, position or coordinates, type, and optional metadata. MarkerSets group markers to support analysis, visualization, and annotation workflows. A set may carry shared attributes such as default color, shape, or visibility, and markers can still retain individual properties.

Markers usually have fields such as id, location, label, and metadata (source, timestamp, confidence). Coordinate systems and units may vary by domain, and MarkerSets may support multiple schemes within the same collection. Common operations include creating new sets, adding or removing markers, querying by id or property, filtering by criteria, and performing set operations like union or intersection. Sets may be serialized to formats such as JSON, CSV, or XML to enable interchange and persistence.

MarkerSets appear in many disciplines. In geographic information systems, a MarkerSet might represent points of interest on a map. In genomics, a panel of genetic markers forms a MarkerSet used for association studies or risk scoring. In image annotation, markers mark regions of interest or feature coordinates. In neuroscience, recording sites can be organized as a MarkerSet for analysis.

Design considerations include data integrity, performance with large collections, and compatibility with standards and external resources. MarkerSets provide a modular, extensible approach to manage and share labeled markers across tools and workflows.