First, we'll need to create our map object and pass in an empty array to the controls property:

map = new OpenLayers.Map('map_element', {
  controls: []
});

Now, no controls will be added to the map unless you manually call addControl or addControls. Let's create and add a WMS layer to our map:

var wms_layer = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS(
  'WMS Layer Title',
  'http://vmap0.tiles.osgeo.org/wms/vmap0',
  {layers: 'basic'},
  {}
);
map.addLayer(wms_layer);

Make sure you also set the extent—as stated in previous chapters, this step will be implied in all future examples:

if(!map.getCenter()){
  map.zoomToMaxExtent();
}

Open up the page. You should see a map with no controls, and you won't be able to pan around or zoom in since the map has no controls, as shown below: