query or algorithm to 'cluster' points on a map

[ossi petz]

hallo everyone!

i am a beginning user of spatial features of mysql. so please forgive me stupid questions :)
i just have no other place to start.

my plan: i have created a map where users can add points of interest (partys, bars, events).

when people 'zoom out' or display a larger part of the map there are hundreds of points overlapping each other (no t actually the points, more the symbols that mark the point).

i would like to 'cluster' points depending on the zoomlevel. so i can calculate the emphasis of points that find in the same region.

does anyone know an algorithm (or the name of one) that finds such 'clusters' so i can place one point for all points within a certain proximity or area instead of adding hundreds of points?

is there support for such plans in the gis implementation or will this be more coding on the application side?


thanks a lot for any hints or other ressources!