What is Google Maps?

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Google Maps is a Google API

Google Fonts is a Google API

Google Charts is a Google API

Learn how to add Google Maps to your web page.

My First Google Map

Start with a simple web page.

Add a <div> element where you want the map to display, and set the size of the map:

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h1>My First Google Map</h1>

<div id="map" style="width:100%;height:400px;">My map will go here</div>

</body>
<html>

Add a JavaScript function to display the map:

Example

function myMap() {
    var mapCanvas = document.getElementById("map");
    var mapOptions = {
        center: new google.maps.LatLng(51.5, -0.2),
        zoom: 10
    };
    var map = new google.maps.Map(mapCanvas, mapOptions);
}

The mapCanvas variable is the map's HTML element.

The mapOptions variable defines the properties for the map.

The center property specifies where to center the map (using latitude and longitude coordinates).

The zoom property specifies the zoom level for the map (try to experiment with the zoom level).

The google.maps.Map object is created with mapCanvas and mapOptions as parameters.

Finally Add the Google API

The functionality of the map is provided by a JavaScript library located at Google:

Example

Try it Yourself »

Google Maps Tutorial

Learn more about Google Maps in our Google Maps Tutorial.

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