The photos you see in Google Maps Street View aren't exactly walkthrus, but rather a series of stitched-together panoramic images. Here's a breakdown:

• Panoramic Images: Special cameras capture a wide field of view, much more than a regular photo.
• Stitching: Software then combines these wide shots into a complete 360-degree view.

While you can't navigate through a continuous video like a walkthrough, you can virtually explore by panning around the 360-degree image. This lets you get a good sense of a place's layout and feel.

It's also important to note that not all locations in Google Maps have Street View available.