How do I restrict the Google Maps geocoder? - google-maps

Question

I've got a web page that allows a user to type a location into an input and find which of my company's physical locations are nearest. It works, mostly. We have LatLngs for all our business locations; we send the user's input to the Google Geocoding API and get a LatLng from there to find the closest.
I'm trying to solve an issue that comes up when a user isn't very specific. All of our locations are in Texas, so if a user enters "paris" into the input, I'd like the Geocoding API to return a result for Paris, TX. Unfortunately, that input only returns a single result, and it's not the one with the cowboy hat on the Eiffel tower.
I've read about viewport biasing and region biasing; they seem like what I need, but they're not working as I expect. Both https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=paris&key=MY_KEY&region=us and https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=paris&key=MY_KEY&bounds=25.837377,-106.645646|36.500704,-93.508292 (as well as combining the two parameters) return only Paris, France. Can anyone suggest something?

Answer 1

You can restrict the Geocoder to the United States with &components=country:US
See component filtering in the documentation
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=paris&components=country:US&key=MY_KEY
Returns:
{
"results" : [
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Lamar County",
"short_name" : "Lamar County",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Texas",
"short_name" : "TX",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Lamar County, TX, USA",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 33.9430568,
"lng" : -95.3080719
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 33.3776528,
"lng" : -95.857738
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 33.75694,
"lng" : -95.6457951
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 33.9430568,
"lng" : -95.3080719
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 33.3776528,
"lng" : -95.857738
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJf6k5FFj_SoYRwuSdUP31HL0",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "United States",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 71.5388001,
"lng" : -66.885417
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 18.7763,
"lng" : 170.5957
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 37.09024,
"lng" : -95.712891
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 71.5388001,
"lng" : -66.885417
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 18.7763,
"lng" : 170.5957
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJCzYy5IS16lQRQrfeQ5K5Oxw",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "156",
"short_name" : "156",
"types" : [ "street_number" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Paris Street",
"short_name" : "Paris St",
"types" : [ "route" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Kansas City",
"short_name" : "KCMO",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Carroll Township",
"short_name" : "Carroll Township",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_3", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Platte County",
"short_name" : "Platte County",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Missouri",
"short_name" : "MO",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "64153",
"short_name" : "64153",
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "156 Paris St, Kansas City, MO 64153, USA",
"geometry" : {
"location" : {
"lat" : 39.3044129,
"lng" : -94.7207093
},
"location_type" : "ROOFTOP",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 39.30576188029149,
"lng" : -94.71936031970849
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 39.30306391970849,
"lng" : -94.72205828029151
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJg_6e7QZewIcRDuO25dr6ddg",
"plus_code" : {
"compound_code" : "873H+QP Kansas City, MO, USA",
"global_code" : "86F7873H+QP"
},
"types" : [ "establishment", "finance", "point_of_interest", "post_office" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Paris",
"short_name" : "Paris",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Lamar County",
"short_name" : "Lamar County",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Texas",
"short_name" : "TX",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Paris, TX, USA",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 33.7383781,
"lng" : -95.435455
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 33.6118529,
"lng" : -95.62792789999999
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 33.6609389,
"lng" : -95.55551299999999
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 33.7383781,
"lng" : -95.435455
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 33.6118529,
"lng" : -95.62792789999999
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJmysnFgZYSoYRSfPTL2YJuck",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Edgar County",
"short_name" : "Edgar County",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Illinois",
"short_name" : "IL",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Edgar County, IL, USA",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 39.88299200000001,
"lng" : -87.53164
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 39.476646,
"lng" : -87.96880899999999
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 39.71312229999999,
"lng" : -87.77633329999999
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 39.88299200000001,
"lng" : -87.53164
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 39.476646,
"lng" : -87.96880899999999
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJkST6Ms69cogRCAPGWoBqOUQ",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Paris",
"short_name" : "Paris",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Lane County",
"short_name" : "Lane County",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Oregon",
"short_name" : "OR",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "97390",
"short_name" : "97390",
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Paris, OR 97390, USA",
"geometry" : {
"location" : {
"lat" : 44.2526208,
"lng" : -123.7706633
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 44.2606124,
"lng" : -123.7546559
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 44.2446281,
"lng" : -123.7866707
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJleXtq1KjwVQRLiSkFazeFHU",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Jordan",
"short_name" : "Jordan",
"types" : [ "colloquial_area", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Washington Township",
"short_name" : "Washington Township",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_3", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Daviess County",
"short_name" : "Daviess County",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Indiana",
"short_name" : "IN",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "47501",
"short_name" : "47501",
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Jordan, Washington Township, IN 47501, USA",
"geometry" : {
"location" : {
"lat" : 38.6886591,
"lng" : -87.206957
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 38.697368,
"lng" : -87.1909496
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 38.6799492,
"lng" : -87.2229644
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJ0e364hPebYgRigmh1xFd6TI",
"types" : [ "colloquial_area", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Palestine",
"short_name" : "Palestine",
"types" : [ "neighborhood", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Paris",
"short_name" : "Paris",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Henry County",
"short_name" : "Henry County",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tennessee",
"short_name" : "TN",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "38242",
"short_name" : "38242",
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Palestine, Paris, TN 38242, USA",
"geometry" : {
"location" : {
"lat" : 36.2589479,
"lng" : -88.40199149999999
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 36.2679447,
"lng" : -88.3859841
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 36.2499501,
"lng" : -88.4179989
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJ4wFtXAe-e4gRs1UnOjUUm1c",
"types" : [ "neighborhood", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Texas",
"short_name" : "TX",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Texas, USA",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 36.5007041,
"lng" : -93.5080389
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 25.8371638,
"lng" : -106.6456461
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 31.9685988,
"lng" : -99.9018131
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 36.5007041,
"lng" : -93.5080389
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 25.8371638,
"lng" : -106.6456461
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJSTKCCzZwQIYRPN4IGI8c6xY",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Monroe County",
"short_name" : "Monroe County",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Missouri",
"short_name" : "MO",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "United States",
"short_name" : "US",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Monroe County, MO, USA",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 39.662932,
"lng" : -91.711934
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 39.3373651,
"lng" : -92.31004899999999
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 39.5508815,
"lng" : -92.0665197
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 39.662932,
"lng" : -91.711934
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 39.3373651,
"lng" : -92.31004899999999
}
}
},
"place_id" : "ChIJOV2qxv0M3YcRAKucv30D33c",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
}
],
"status" : "OK"
}