Arduino map() method - why?

Question

I was just looking at some example code and came across a line, I don't fully understand why it needs to be done. I understand that you are taking in an analog value. This value is between 0 and 1024 apparently? Why is this? Why does the output need to be mapped between 0 and 255? What dictates the arguments that are used here? The line in question :

   // map it to the range of the analog out:
      outputValue = map(sensorValue, 0, 1024, 0, 255); 

Highlighted in the code :

created 29 Dec. 2008
 Modified 4 Sep 2010
 by Tom Igoe

 This example code is in the public domain.

 */

// These constants won't change.  They're used to give names
// to the pins used:
const int analogInPin = A0;  // Analog input pin that the potentiometer is attached to
const int analogOutPin = 9; // Analog output pin that the LED is attached to

int sensorValue = 0;        // value read from the pot
int outputValue = 0;        // value output to the PWM (analog out)

void setup() {
  // initialize serial communications at 9600 bps:
  Serial.begin(9600); 
}

void loop() {
  // read the analog in value:
  sensorValue = analogRead(analogInPin);            
  **// map it to the range of the analog out:
  outputValue = map(sensorValue, 0, 1024, 0, 255);**  
  // change the analog out value:
  analogWrite(analogOutPin, outputValue);           

  // print the results to the serial monitor:
  Serial.print("sensor = " );                       
  Serial.print(sensorValue);      
  Serial.print("\t output = ");      
  Serial.println(outputValue);   

  // wait 10 milliseconds before the next loop
  // for the analog-to-digital converter to settle
  // after the last reading:
  delay(10);                     
}

Thanks very much for the replies.

Answer 1

The analog output only has an acceptable range between 0 and 255.

Therefore, the value has to be mapped within the acceptable range.

Documentation for map method is here: http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/map

Because the Arduino has an analogRead resolution of 0-1023, and an analogWrite resolution of only 0-255, this raw data from the potentiometer needs to be scaled before using it...

This explanation comes from an Arduino sensor tutorial(under the 'Code' header): http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/AnalogInOutSerial