Google static maps can be created without an api key. So what is the difference between using static map with key and without key? if we use without key then does it have any limit?
As of June 2018, the api does not work without a key:
https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/user-guide/
The main difference is that if you use a key
==> your quota limits will be per key otherwise per IP address
==> you can track your usage in Google Developers Console
==> you can enable billing for additional usage
Quoting from Google
All Google Static Maps API applications require authentication using an API key. Including a key in your request allows you to monitor your application's API usage in the Google Developers Console; enables per-key instead of per-IP-address quota limits; and ensures that Google can contact you about your application if necessary.
For more information look at the link below
https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/static-maps/get-api-key
Related
I have thoroughly read through the updated google API Terms and Conditions:
https://developers.google.com/maps/pricing-and-plans/standard-plan-2016-update
Specifically, this excerpt:
Active domains created before June 22, 2016, continue to be able to access the Google Maps JavaScript API, Static Maps API, and Street View Image API without an API key. They are not affected by keyless access being unavailable for new domains.
My question is, how do I figure out if my domain is grandfathered and can continue to call the static maps API without the API_KEY parameter?
You can test if your domain was whitelisted by trying to load a map without an API key. If you manage to get the static map image it means you were whitelisted.
The whitelist has 25000 queries per day limit which is equivalent to the free quota limit when you are using a key.
To be able to monitor your usage and, if needed, get more quota it would be best for you to start using an API key. You can then check quota and monitor your usage in the Google Developer Console
Hello: I had a Google map using a kml file created for me. The developer used his api key in the script, so when I use it on my site, the page asks for my site's api key. I am not the developer so how can I obtain an api key?
API = Application programming interface.
Google will allow your web site to call a Google API many thousand times per day.
If you plan for heavy traffic, you should get an API key from Google. The key is free.
Go to https://console.developers.google.com if you need an API key.
Here : https://developers.google.com/maps/signup
You need to go to DEVELOPRES at GOOGLE and sign up for a key!
"Static" Street View documentation says that all request should have an API key added. There is also description how to add it. But looking at JavaScript SV documentation there is no mentioning of API keys. Is using API keys with "dynamic" SV required? How do I add them to my requests?
It is not required but you should according to Google:
All Maps API applications* should load the Maps API using an API key. Using an API key enables you to monitor your application's Maps API usage, and ensures that Google can contact you about your application if necessary. If your application's Maps API usage exceeds the Usage Limits, you must load the Maps API using an API key in order to purchase additional quota.
Here is the link on using the API Key
Here is the link I'm trying to access:
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/textsearch/xml?query=restaurants+in+Sydney&sensor=true
According to some documentation on Google.com, it doesn't look like an API key is needed for their Maps service anymore. Can anyone see why the link I posted above wouldn't work?
If it does need an API key, could someone specific which API key is needed from Google?
In this case you should add a key
Required parameters
query — The text string on which to search, for example: "restaurant". The Place service will return candidate matches based on this string and order the results based on their perceived relevance.
key — Your application's API key. This key identifies your application for purposes of quota management and so that Places added from your application are made immediately available to your app. Visit the APIs Console to create an API Project and obtain your key.
sensor — Indicates whether or not the Place request came from a device using a location sensor (e.g. a GPS) to determine the location sent in this request. This value must be either true or false.
https://developers.google.com/places/documentation/search
Not exactly. Some of their APIs to not require keys with each request, but you must still authenticate. From their developer docs:
All Maps API applications* should load the Maps API using an API key.
You can read about the different APIs and their requirements here.
I saw that one has not to obtain a Google Maps API key if you want to use their maps api in general, only if you want to use their web services and statistics etc.
Now I have two questions regarding this:
If I have a public website which uses the Google Maps API to display a map with default options. How does Google count the API calls if I don't use an API key? (Maybe with the help of the domain which requests the map?)
If they do so and my site exceeds the 25k calls/day, is there a possiblity that my users can login with their Google account on my site and some backend logic will get them an API key from Google that I store e.g. in a database. So I could use the API keys of my users to bypass the API usage limits only for my site.
Assuming you are using the Javascript API v3:
This SO question partially answers your queries.
Have a look at the usage limits, it looks like that you cannot use more than one API key:
Can I use more than one API key to increase my available usage over
the documented limits?
Google reserves the right to withhold access to the Maps API from any site that attempts to use more than the permitted number of map
loads of the Maps API without permission, and fails to respond when
contacted by Google.
Though this may be debatable, to me it seems a bad idea using your user's API key. For sure you need to ask the permission, then you have to monitor their quotas and so on, a minefield...
TL;DR if you exceed constantly the daily quota you should purchase a larger quota.