Address validation using Google Maps API

Question

I have a task to validate addresses entered into a system I am currently creating  The system requires that address entered are validated against a valid data source  In the UK the dataset comes from the Royal Mail and is expensive to access     The data needed is post code info for the whole of europe to start with accessed by an API into the web application   There are a number of companies that offer this service    QAS Capscan Postcode anywhere   These all offer the service I require  However this is expensive and in some cases not a complete data set  e g  not Ireland  I was also wondering if there would be a way to utilize the Google Maps API to validate this data via postal code and country    Would the google maps method be possible or do I have to go down the line of one of these expensive companies   Any thoughts on what line I should take

User · Answer

The answer depends upon the degree of confidence you place in the data and how your data is being used. For example, if you're using it for mailing or shipping, you'll want to be be confident that the data is correct. If you're just using it as another fraud-prevention mechanism then you could potentially allow a degree of error to creep into the data.

If you want any degree of real accuracy, you're need to go with a service that does real address verification and you're going to have to pay for it. As has been mentioned by Adam, address verification and validation at first seems simple and easy, but it's a black hole fraught with challenges and, unless you've some underlying data to work with, virtually impossible to do by yourself. Trust me, you're actually saving money by using a service. You're welcome to go down this road yourself to experience what I mean, but I can guarantee you'll see the light, so to speak, after even a few hours (or days) of spinning your wheels.

I should mention that I'm the founder of SmartyStreets. We do address validation and verification addresses and we offer this for the USA and international as well. I'm more than happy to personally answer any questions you have on the topic of address cleansing, standardization, and validation.

User · Answer

Validate it against FedEx s api  They have an API to generate labels from XML code  The process involves a step to validate the address

User · Answer

I am both a web developer and a former employee of one of the companies you mentioned  I completely understand where you re coming from  Verifying addresses seems like a simple problem to tackle  but it s very much an iceberg  I suppose one workaround to the legal constraints of the Google or Yahoo  Maps APIs is to request your users verify their addresses on a map  If I were in your shoes  though  I wouldn t go that route   The reason address verification services are so expensive is that they require licenses and ongoing relationships with grumpy  bureaucratic postal authorities  including the Royal Mail   Unfortunately  postal authorities are the best  and often the only  sources of data against which to verify addresses  so there really isn t any other way to go about it  The bottom line is you need to weigh the cost of bad addresses  usually a question of mail volume  against the cost of the software to verify them  Irish postal data is even more rubbish than Irish postal formats  which frequently omit building numbers   so there s little you can do about those addresses

User · Answer

You could consider using CDYNE s PAV-I API that validates international addresses   international-address-verification   They cover over 240 countries  so it should cover all of the countries that you are looking to validate for

User · Answer

Google s geocoding api does what want you want  As Xerus points out  as long as you are not using the geocoded points on a non-google Map  you should be good  terms of service   Specifically    3 1 Use without a Google Map  Customer may use Google Maps Content from the Geocoding API in Customer Applications without a corresponding Google Map    3 3 No use with a non-Google map   Customer must not use Google Maps Content from the Geocoding API in conjunction with a non-Google map

User · Answer

Another option is YADDRESS

User · Answer

I know that this post is a bit old but incase anyone finds it still relevant you might want to check out the free geocoding services offered by USC College   This does included address validation via ajax and static calls  The only catch is that they request a link back and only offer allotments of 2500 calls   More than fair  https   webgis usc edu Services AddressValidation Default aspx

User · Answer

The answer probably depends how critical it is for you to receive support and possible customization for this service   Google can certainly do this  Look into their XML and Geocoding API s  You should be able to craft an XML message asking Google to return Map coordinates for a given address  If the address is not found  invalid   you will receive an appropriate response  Here s a useful page  http   code google com apis maps documentation services html XML Requests  Note that Google s aim in providing the Maps API is to plot addresses on actual maps  While you can certainly use the data for other purposes  you are at the mercy of Google should one of their maps not exactly correspond to your legal or commercial address validation needs  If you paid for one of the services you mentioned  you would likely be able to receive support should certain addresses not resolve the way you expect them to   In other words  you get what you pay for      If you have the time  though  why not try implementing a Google-based solution then going from there  The API looks pretty slick  and it s free  after all

User · Answer

Google basis  free  does not provide address verification  Geocoding  as there is no UK postcode license   This means postcode searches are very in-accurate  The proximity search is very poor  even for town searches  often not recognising locations   This is why Google have a premier and a enterprise solution which still is more expensive and not as good as business mapping specialists like bIng and Via Michelin who also have API s   As a free lance developer  so serious business would use Google as the system is weak and really provides a watered down solution

User · Answer

A great blog describing 14 address finders  https   www conversion-uplift co uk free-address-lookup-tools   Many address autocomplete services  including Google s Places API  appears to offer international address support but it has limited accuracy   For example  New Zealand address and geolocation data are free to download from Land Information New Zealand  LINZ   When a user search for an address such as 76 Francis St Hauraki from Google or Address Doctor  a positive match is returned  The land parcel was matched but not the postal delivery address  which is either 76A or 76B  The problem is amplified with apartments and units on a single land parcel    For 100  accuracy  use a country-specific address finder instead such as https   www addy co nz for NZ address autocomplete

[api] Address validation using Google Maps API

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