From a place to a point.
And back again.
Addresses tell people where something is. Coordinates tell software where to put it on a map. Geocoding connects the two.
What is geocoding?
Geocoding finds geographical coordinates for an address or place name. You send a query such as a street address, a landmark, or a city, and receive matching locations with latitude and longitude.
For example, searching for a landmark can help an app place a marker on a map. A broad query can have several matches, so your application can show the choices and let a user select the right one.
Where it helps
- Show customer-entered addresses on a map.
- Find a shop, landmark, town, or other named place.
- Add location coordinates to address records for further analysis.
ParisA POSSIBLE LOCATION
What is reverse geocoding?
Reverse geocoding finds address information for a point described by latitude and longitude. It helps turn a pair of numbers into a place a person can recognize.
For example, an app with coordinates from a map click can ask for a nearby address, city, and country. Available address fields depend on the map data around that point.
Where it helps
- Describe a pin selected on a map.
- Attach readable place information to GPS coordinates supplied by your app.
- Show a location in an activity or service record.
lat=48.8584
lon=2.2945YOU RECEIVEA readable addressor nearby placeThe closest suitable mapped feature may not be the exact address at your point.
Geocoding vs. reverse geocoding
| Operation | You send | You receive | Endpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geocoding | An address or place name | Matching places and coordinates | /search |
| Reverse geocoding | Latitude and longitude | Address information for a matching nearby feature | /reverse |
Both operations use map data; neither is a guarantee of a deliverable postal address or a complete result for every location.
Two simple API requests
Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your key. The API supports JSON and XML. The first examples request JSON and English results; XML examples follow.
Search an address or landmark
https://api.geocoding.info/search?q=Paris%2C%20France&format=json&accept-language=en&key=YOUR_API_KEYLook up a point
https://api.geocoding.info/reverse?lat=48.8584&lon=2.2945&format=json&accept-language=en&key=YOUR_API_KEYXML responses
Use format=xml with search, reverse geocoding or object lookup.
https://api.geocoding.info/search?q=Paris%2C%20France&format=xml&accept-language=en&key=YOUR_API_KEYhttps://api.geocoding.info/reverse?lat=48.8584&lon=2.2945&format=xml&accept-language=en&key=YOUR_API_KEYq- The address or place to search for. URL-encode spaces and special characters.
lat/lon- Latitude and longitude in WGS84 decimal degrees. Use the named parameters to avoid swapping their order.
format=json/format=xml- Choose JSON or XML for your response. Specify the format explicitly in your request.
accept-language=en- Requests English names where available. The Gateway defaults to English when this query parameter is absent.
key- Your API key. Keep it private; send API requests from your backend when possible.
In JSON, common response fields include lat, lon, and display_name. Address details and result structure vary by endpoint and available data.
A few useful things to know
How accurate are the results?
Accuracy depends on the completeness of the underlying map data, your query, and the type of feature found. A building, street, or city result can represent different levels of detail. Review the returned place before treating it as an exact location.
Will reverse geocoding always return the exact street address?
No. Our Nominatim-based service uses a nearby suitable mapped feature. The returned address can differ from the precise point, especially where data is sparse or streets are close together. Some locations may have no suitable result.
Does reverse geocoding track a person's device?
No. Your application supplies the coordinates. Getting a device's location is a separate step, which may require the person's permission.
Why does one address search return multiple places?
Place names can repeat, and an incomplete address may match more than one location. Include the city, region, or country to make your query more specific.
Where does the location data come from?
The service uses Nominatim with OpenStreetMap data. Coverage and address detail depend on mapped information. OpenStreetMap contributor attribution and licensing apply. See the Nominatim reverse-geocoding documentation for how nearby features are selected.