Can Google Map v3 Overlays be Grouped?

Look开发者_开发问答ing through the Google Maps Javascript v3 API it looks like if I want to group together markers and add or remove them as groups, I need to roll my own code based on the sample below.

// Removes the overlays from the map, but keeps them in the array
function clearOverlays() {
  if (markersArray) {
    for (i in markersArray) {
      markersArray[i].setMap(null);
    }
  }
}

// Shows any overlays currently in the array
function showOverlays() {
  if (markersArray) {
    for (i in markersArray) {
      markersArray[i].setMap(map);
    }
  }
}

// Deletes all markers in the array by removing references to them
function deleteOverlays() {
  if (markersArray) {
    for (i in markersArray) {
      markersArray[i].setMap(null);
    }
    markersArray.length = 0;
  }
}

Is there a more elegant solution to grouping markers and infowindows besides arrays?

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Depending on what it is you want to do, MarkerClusterer might be helpful: http://google-maps-utility-library-v3.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/markerclusterer/docs/reference.html