Putting a marker in google maps based on string location

Question

I have included a google map in my website. I have the location of a person stored in a string. Is there a way to put a marker in google maps based on that location? If I had the location as coordinates it's easy, it's explained in google developers blog pretty straight forward.

Is there a way to extract coords from that location, or somehow search in google maps and place a marker on the returned location?

What does the string look like? Is it a postal address or a "place"? — geocodezip, Nov 14 '15 at 23:39
possible duplicate of: [Using Address Instead Of Longitude And Latitude With Google Maps API](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15925980/using-address-instead-of-longitude-and-latitude-with-google-maps-api) — geocodezip, Nov 14 '15 at 23:40

JasTonAChair · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-15T00:05:58.620

2

You could use Google's geocoding service to get coords from street addresses.

You can send a request to the API server, and it returns an XML structure containing a latlng coord, but you can also have JSON.

The service is free, within limits.

Here's an example of an API call.

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/xml?address=PLACENAME

I've used this service before. You'd want to have the most specific details first, all separated by %20. Eg. street%20town%20province%20country

Update

I did some reading, you don't need an API key. Here's an explaination.

To get the results, I use jquery.

Here's an example-

$.get('https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=Scone%20%NSW%20Australia', function(data){
      console.log(data.results[0].geometry.location)
})

The result is an object, containing an array called results. Each array element is a result, containing your coords.

This example logs an object with the coords of Scone, NSW.

edited Nov 15 '15 at 00:05

answered Nov 14 '15 at 22:48

JasTonAChair

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could you also add details on how to get the api key? – John Demetriou Nov 14 '15 at 23:06
Are you joking? Google has those details. I even posted a link. – JasTonAChair Nov 14 '15 at 23:10
sorry, it's 1.30 past midnight here :D my brain just went through my brain. :D – John Demetriou Nov 14 '15 at 23:23
1

OK, fair enough. I'll update my answer with an AJAX example too. – JasTonAChair Nov 14 '15 at 23:28
I was going to write my brain went through my head..... i think I will just go to bed – John Demetriou Nov 14 '15 at 23:41
1

I was misinformed. You don't need an API key at all. Better answer above. – JasTonAChair Nov 15 '15 at 00:08

Putting a marker in google maps based on string location

1 Answers1