Get Total Address Information with Geocode API

Getting address information is vitally important. Whether shipping a package, tailoring a user experience to location, or using that data to help localize language on a website, getting location information wrong can lose a sale or brake feature. Let's take a look at an API I recently found which helps me get all the detailed geolocation information I need: Geocode API.

Quick Hits

• Useful for verifying addresses, using data to calculate shipping rates, and mapping
• Provides detailed data but very easy to use
• Get address data for anywhere in the world
• Support for implementation and integration
• 99.9% uptime guaranteed
• From the amazing creators behind Zenserp
• Get started for free!

Using Geocode API

Start by signing up for Geocode API for free!

First note that you can send the API key via URL or via header:

curl "https://app.geocodeapi.io/api/v1/search"
  -H "apikey: APIKEY"
curl "https://app.geocodeapi.io/api/v1/search?apikey=APIKEY"
curl "https://app.geocodeapi.io/api/v1/search" -F "apikey=APIKEY"

The core of Geocode API's functionality runs through the /v1/search/ endpoint with only a text parameter and the API key:

curl "https://app.geocodeapi.io/api/v1/search?text=Madison+WI+Capitol&apikey=APIKEY"

In my example above, I provide the API only the term "Madison, WI Capitol". The resulting payload is filled with great detail; here are some highlights of the response:

{
        "id": "relation/7144092",
        "gid": "openstreetmap:venue:relation/7144092",
        "layer": "venue",
        "source": "openstreetmap",
        "source_id": "relation/7144092",
        "name": "University of Wisconsin-Madison",
        "confidence": 0.8,
        "match_type": "fallback",
        "accuracy": "point",
        "country": "United States",
        "country_a": "USA",
        "region": "Wisconsin",
        "region_a": "WI",
        "localadmin": "Madison",
        "neighbourhood": "College Hills",
        "continent": "North America",
        "label": "University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA",
        "addendum": {
          "osm": {
            "wikidata": "Q838330",
            "wikipedia": "en:University of Wisconsin–Madison"
          }
        }
      }

I was really impressed by the neighborhood data it included! You can even use broader search terms like my hometown restaurant and first employer -- "McFarland WI Culver's":

curl "https://app.geocodeapi.io/api/v1/search?text=McFarland+Culvers&apikey=APIKEY"


{
        "id": "way/572463175",
        "gid": "openstreetmap:venue:way/572463175",
        "layer": "venue",
        "source": "openstreetmap",
        "source_id": "way/572463175",
        "name": "Culver's",
        "housenumber": "4700",
        "street": "Farwell Street",
        "confidence": 0.8,
        "match_type": "fallback",
        "accuracy": "point",
        "country": "United States",
        "country_gid": "whosonfirst:country:85633793",
        "country_a": "USA",
        "region": "Wisconsin",
        "region_gid": "whosonfirst:region:85688517",
        "region_a": "WI",
        "localadmin": "Mcfarland",
        "localadmin_gid": "whosonfirst:localadmin:404493259",
        "neighbourhood": "South Central Side",
        "neighbourhood_gid": "whosonfirst:neighbourhood:85878883",
        "continent": "North America",
        "continent_gid": "whosonfirst:continent:102191575",
        "label": "Culver's, Mcfarland, WI, USA"
      }

You don't need the exact address to get a reliable result -- simply provide a human-friendly term and you get accurate address information. In the case that you may return multiple locations, like "McDonalds Madison, WI", you can limit the result size:

[code shell text=McDonalds + Madison + WI + size: 10]

curl "https://app.geocodeapi.io/api/v1/search?text=McDonalds+Madison&size=10&apikey=APIKEY"

Geocode API provides a great mix of search results, location detail and customization, and trust in result. The results provided feel like a Google search married with localization.