How to add Google Search to your Maps API application

location based services

The Google AJAX Search API is designed to work seamlessly with the Google Maps API. One way it adds instant value is to allow your maps-based applications to execute a search and then plot those search results on the map. Our model for this is simple and straightforward. Each search result is a JavaScript object that contains a number of properties including a URL, title, array of phone numbers, street address, city, etc. In addition, each search result contains the latitude and longitude of the result.

Adding a search result onto a map is as simple as:

var latLng = GLatLng(parseFloat(result.lat), parseFloat(result.lng));
var marker = new GMarker(latLng);
myMap.addOverlay(marker);


The AJAX Search API team has produced a number of sample applications to teach the basics of search integrated maps mashups. Two of the most popular are My Favorite Places and My Phone List. Take a look and see if they inspire you to add search to your maps based mashups.

As an example of this search enhanced Maps mashup idea, we have built a Google Gadget using these two APIs. Give the new The Google Map Search gadget a shot.

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