Key services available with the Places API (New)
The Google Places API provides several methods (Endpoints) for searching and getting location details, each designed for a specific scenario:
| Service | Main application | Project example |
| Autocomplete | Suggesting place names or searches as the user types. | Address search field in a food delivery app. |
| Text Search | Search for places based on a generic text string. | Search for text like: “Best Italian restaurants in Shiraz.”. |
| Nearby Search | Find places based on proximity to a specific point and type of place. | Display all "gas stations" or "coffee shops" within a 5 km radius of the user. |
| Place Details | Get complete and comprehensive information about a place based on its unique identifier (Place ID). | Show a restaurant's full address, phone number, ratings, hours, and reviews. |
| Place Photos | Access millions of high-quality photos stored of places. | Display a photo gallery of a hotel or shopping mall in a travel app. |
Sample Projects and Solutions (Use Cases)
This API allows for the implementation of a wide range of location-based capabilities:
- E-commerce and delivery: Enable the feature Accurate address autocomplete For users when placing an order or adding a new address (using Autocomplete and Place Details).
- Travel and Tourism: Create a Local Guide that Nearby points of interest (Nearby Search) displays hotels or tourist attractions and provides their full details (Place Details).
- Local networking applications: Helping users to “Check-in” Doing business in nearby businesses.
- Find a dealership and services: Displaying the location of all branches of a chain store or authorized repair shops on a map and providing their contact information.
- Data improvement: Enriching the company's internal database with standardized data (such as Place ID and exact address) from Google.
Successful projects and user applications
Most apps and sites that need to interact with maps and locations use this service. Any platform that has a smart address search field, suggests nearby places, or displays business details is likely using the Places API.
- Online taxi services (like Uber/Lyft): Use Autocomplete to quickly and accurately enter origin and destination.
- Travel booking platforms (such as Expedia, Booking.com): Display comprehensive information about hotels and tourist attractions.
- Food delivery apps and online stores: Confirm delivery address and suggest nearby stores.
Code sample (nearby search example)
To search for places nearby (Nearby Search) to a point, you can use a simple HTTP request (although it is recommended to use Google's Client Libraries for different languages).
General structure of Nearby Search request (Web Service API):
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/json?location=-33.8670522,151.1957362&radius=500&type=restaurant&key=YOUR_API_KEYExplanation of parameters:
- location: Geographic coordinates of the search center (latitude and longitude).
- radius: Search radius in meters (in this example 500 meters).
- type: Type of location desired (e.g.
restaurant). - key: Your API key.
Cost structure and pricing
Google Maps Platform from a model Pay-as-you-go It follows that based on SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) Or the type of request is calculated.
| Request type (SKU) | Cost structure | Key point |
| Autocomplete Requests | Based on the number of requests | The higher the number of requests, the lower the cost per 1,000 requests. |
| Place Details | Based on receiving details of a place with Place ID | It is more expensive than a simple search because more data is retrieved. |
| Text/Nearby Search | Based on the number of searches | Prices vary depending on the SKU (Essentials or Pro). |
- Free monthly credit: Google defaults to a certain amount each month. Free Calls feature It provides users with $200 credit per SKU (this replaces the previous $200 credit). For low volumes or development, this is often sufficient.
- Important point in costing: To reduce search costs, always use Field Masking Use. That is, in requests
Place DetailsOrSearch, Only fields (likeSize,formattedAddressRequest the ones you really need.
For more information on implementation and coding, you can watch the video below. This video is an introduction to the new version of the Places API, which can be useful for understanding the latest changes and updates.
To get the API_Key, you can contact support. Iranian Sustainable Trade Company Visit or get advice by phone.
