[javascript] Javascript geocoding from address to latitude and longitude numbers not working

I'm using the following geocoding function to convert a textual address into latitude and longitude numbers, but it's not working right. The alert writes "undefined".

Can anyone say what's wrong?

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">

var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var address = "new york";

geocoder.geocode( { 'address': address}, function(results, status) {

if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
    var latitude = results[0].geometry.location.latitude;
    var longitude = results[0].geometry.location.longitude;
    alert(latitude);
    } 
}); 
</script>

This question is related to javascript google-maps

The answer is


Try using this instead:

var latitude = results[0].geometry.location.lat();
var longitude = results[0].geometry.location.lng();

It's bit hard to navigate Google's api but here is the relevant documentation.

One thing I had trouble finding was how to go in the other direction. From coordinates to an address. Here is the code I neded upp using. Please not that I also use jquery.

$.each(results[0].address_components, function(){
    $("#CreateDialog").find('input[name="'+ this.types+'"]').attr('value', this.long_name);
});

What I'm doing is to loop through all the returned address_components and test if their types match any input element names I have in a form. And if they do I set the value of the element to the address_components value.
If you're only interrested in the whole formated address then you can follow Google's example


The script tag to the api has changed recently. Use something like this to query the Geocoding API and get the JSON object back

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=THE_ADDRESS_YOU_WANT_TO_GEOCODE&key=YOUR_API_KEY"></script>

The address could be something like

1600+Amphitheatre+Parkway,+Mountain+View,+CA (URI Encoded; you should Google it. Very useful)

or simply

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA

By entering this address https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=1600+Amphitheatre+Parkway,+Mountain+View,+CA&key=YOUR_API_KEY inside the browser, along with my API Key, I get back a JSON object which contains the Latitude & Longitude for the city of Moutain view, CA.

{"results" : [
  {
     "address_components" : [
        {
           "long_name" : "1600",
           "short_name" : "1600",
           "types" : [ "street_number" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "Amphitheatre Parkway",
           "short_name" : "Amphitheatre Pkwy",
           "types" : [ "route" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "Mountain View",
           "short_name" : "Mountain View",
           "types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "Santa Clara County",
           "short_name" : "Santa Clara County",
           "types" : [ "administrative_area_level_2", "political" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "California",
           "short_name" : "CA",
           "types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "United States",
           "short_name" : "US",
           "types" : [ "country", "political" ]
        },
        {
           "long_name" : "94043",
           "short_name" : "94043",
           "types" : [ "postal_code" ]
        }
     ],
     "formatted_address" : "1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA",
     "geometry" : {
        "location" : {
           "lat" : 37.4222556,
           "lng" : -122.0838589
        },
        "location_type" : "ROOFTOP",
        "viewport" : {
           "northeast" : {
              "lat" : 37.4236045802915,
              "lng" : -122.0825099197085
           },
           "southwest" : {
              "lat" : 37.4209066197085,
              "lng" : -122.0852078802915
           }
        }
     },
     "place_id" : "ChIJ2eUgeAK6j4ARbn5u_wAGqWA",
     "types" : [ "street_address" ]
  }],"status" : "OK"}

Web Frameworks such like AngularJS allow us to perform these queries with ease.


You're accessing the latitude and longitude incorrectly.

Try

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">

var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var address = "new york";

geocoder.geocode( { 'address': address}, function(results, status) {

  if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
    var latitude = results[0].geometry.location.lat();
    var longitude = results[0].geometry.location.lng();
    alert(latitude);
  } 
}); 
</script>