Javascript geocoding from address to latitude and longitude numbers not working

Question

I\'m using the following geocoding function to convert a textual address into latitude and longitude numbers, but it\'s not working right. The alert writes \"undefined\".

Answer 1

Try using this instead:

var latitude = results[0].geometry.location.lat();
var longitude = results[0].geometry.location.lng();

It's bit hard to navigate Google's api but here is the relevant documentation.

One thing I had trouble finding was how to go in the other direction. From coordinates to an address. Here is the code I neded upp using. Please not that I also use jquery.

$.each(results[0].address_components, function(){
    $("#CreateDialog").find('input[name="'+ this.types+'"]').attr('value', this.long_name);
});

What I'm doing is to loop through all the returned address_components and test if their types match any input element names I have in a form. And if they do I set the value of the element to the address_components value.
If you're only interrested in the whole formated address then you can follow Google's example

Answer 2

You're accessing the latitude and longitude incorrectly.

Try

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">

var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var address = "new york";

geocoder.geocode( { 'address': address}, function(results, status) {

  if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
    var latitude = results[0].geometry.location.lat();
    var longitude = results[0].geometry.location.lng();
    alert(latitude);
  } 
}); 
</script>

Answer 3

The script tag to the api has changed recently. Use something like this to query the Geocoding API and get the JSON object back

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=THE_ADDRESS_YOU_WANT_TO_GEOCODE&key=YOUR_API_KEY"></script>

The address could be something like

1600+Amphitheatre+Parkway,+Mountain+View,+CA (URI Encoded; you should Google it. Very useful)

or simply

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA

By entering this address https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=1600+Amphitheatre+Parkway,+Mountain+View,+CA&key=YOUR_API_KEY inside the browser, along with my API Key, I get back a JSON object which contains the Latitude & Longitude for the city of Moutain view, CA.

{"results" : [
  {
     "address_components" : [
        {
           "long_name" : "1600",
           "short_name" : "1600",
           "types" : [ "street_number" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "Amphitheatre Parkway",
           "short_name" : "Amphitheatre Pkwy",
           "types" : [ "route" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "Mountain View",
           "short_name" : "Mountain View",
           "types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "Santa Clara County",
           "short_name" : "Santa Clara County",
           "types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "California",
           "short_name" : "CA",
           "types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "United States",
           "short_name" : "US",
           "types" : [ "country", "political" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "94043",
           "short_name" : "94043",
           "types" : [ "postal_code" ]
        }
     ],
     "formatted_address" : "1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA",
     "geometry" : {
        "location" : {
           "lat" : 37.4222556,
           "lng" : -122.0838589
        },
        "location_type" : "ROOFTOP",
        "viewport" : {
           "northeast" : {
              "lat" : 37.4236045802915,
              "lng" : -122.0825099197085
           },
           "southwest" : {
              "lat" : 37.4209066197085,
              "lng" : -122.0852078802915
           }
        }
     },
     "place_id" : "ChIJ2eUgeAK6j4ARbn5u_wAGqWA",
     "types" : [ "street_address" ]
  }],"status" : "OK"}

Web Frameworks such like AngularJS allow us to perform these queries with ease.