Google Maps API

Google Maps API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of methods and tools that can be used for embedding maps on websites and building software applications. Google Maps API lets you customize maps and the information on maps. Google Maps has a wide array of APIs that let you embed the robust functionality and everyday usefulness of maps into your own website. Basic Google Maps API looks like this:

var map;
function initialize() {
	var mapOptions = {
	zoom: 8,
	center: new google.maps.LatLng(-34.397, 150.644)
	 };
	map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map-canvas'),
	mapOptions);
}

google.maps.event.addDomListener(window, 'load', initialize);

In combination with HTML code, it looks like on the screenshot below:

The Google Maps APIs give developers several ways of embedding Google Maps into web pages, and allows for either simple use or extensive customization. There are now several APIs offerings:

• Google Maps Javascript API

• Google Static Maps API

• Google Maps Embed API

The Google Maps API supports the following web browsers:

For desktop:

• Internet Explorer 8-11 inclusive (Windows)

• The current and previous version of Firefox (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)

• The current and previous version of Chrome (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)

• The current and previous version of Safari (Mac OS X)

For Android:

• Current version of Chrome on Android 4.1+

For iOS:

• Mobile Safari on the current and previous major version of iOS

• Current version of Chrome for iOS
  

Internet Explorer’s Compatibility View is not supported.

Google Maps APIs are not accessible from China. The Google Maps APIs are served within China from the domain maps.google.cn. This domain does not support https. When making requests to the Google Maps APIs from China, please replace https://maps.googleapis.com with http://maps.google.cn.