Understanding the Google Maps API

Google Maps is a free service provided by Google and is very popular. Google Maps is a world map that we can use to see an area. In other words, Google Maps is a map that can be seen using a browser. We can add Google Maps features in the web that we have created or on our blogs that are paid or free even with the Google Maps API. The Google Maps API is a library in the form of JavaScript.

How Google Maps Works

Google Maps is created by using a combination of map images, databases, and mutually active objects that are done with HTML, Javascript and AJAX programming languages, and not a few other programming languages. The appearance of the map depicted on the screen is the result of communication from the user with the database on the Google web server to describe a collection of requested fragments. All existing images are integrated into a database on Google server, which will later be called as needed. The parts of a map image which are a combination of images measuring 256 x 256 pixels. Each 256 x 256 tile represents a specific image in longitude, latitude, and a map size of a certain level.

Google Maps API

Google Maps Application Programming Interface (API) is an application facility made by Google to facilitate users who want to combine Google Maps into their respective websites by displaying their own data points. By using the Google Maps API, Google Maps can be stored on an external website. In order for the Google Maps application to be displayed on certain websites, an API key is required. API key is a unique code generated by Google for a particular website, so that Google Maps servers can recognize.

How to make Google Maps to display on a web or blog is very easy just by requiring knowledge of HTML and JavaScript, and a very stable Internet connection. By using the Google Maps API, we can save time and money to build reliable digital map applications, so that we can focus only on the data that will be displayed. In other words, we only make data while the map that will be displayed belongs to Google so we don't mess around making maps of a location, even the world.

In programming, the Google Map API uses the following sequence:

1. Enter the JavaScript Maps API into our HTML.
2. Creates an element div with the name map_canvas to display the map.
3. Create several literal objects to store properties on the map.
4. Write down the JavaScript function to create a map object.
5. Initiates maps in the HTML body tag with the onload event.

In the Google Maps API there are 4 types of map model choices provided by Google, including:

1. ROADMAP, this is what I choose, to display ordinary 2-dimensional maps
2. SATELLITE, for displaying satellite photos
3. TERRAIN, to show the physical relief of the earth's surface and show how high a location is, for example it will show mountains and rivers
4. HYBRID, will show satellite photos above which also illustrate what appears on ROADMAP (roads and city names)

Well, enough information about the understanding of Google Maps. But, continue to visit this blog because I will gradually discuss about making Google Maps in a variety of forms and models.