Have you ever wondered how apps like Yelp or Trip advisor give you detailed information about restaurants, cafes, or landmarks in just a few clicks? What if you could build a similar feature for your own application? The magic lies in the Google Places API, a tool that unlocks rich, real-time data about places worldwide.
Let’s explore the Google API’s with REST API
What Makes Google Places API Unique?
The Google Places API provides:
- Rich Data: Fetch detailed information about places, such as restaurants, cafes, or landmarks.
- Photos: Display stunning images of the place or its menu.
- Ratings and Reviews: Show user-generated insights and feedback.
- Real-Time Updates: Get up-to-date information every time a user makes a request.
Now, let’s dive into the first step: logging into the Google Cloud Console. This is where the magic begins!
Head over to Google Cloud Console and log in with your credentials. Once you’re in, enable the Places API, generate your API key, and unlock the full potential of place data.
Once you’re in, you will see
Select a project and create a new project
Give project name according to your preference and select Create
Now let’s go to API’s section to enable Place API and to create credentials
Select **ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES **and search for Places API
Select Places API (New)
Now try to enable the API for your project, It will ask for a billing account(If you do not have billing account, It will help you to create one). But you don’t worry, It will not charge you at this moment it just ask you for auto-mandate the money(Later you can cancel from your bank).
Once billing done, go to APIs section and create credentials select API key. Now the API key has been created you should save that key securely, as it will be used in all API requests to authenticate your application.
Now, you are ready to make your first API call
Include the API key in the request headers. Use the X-Goog-FieldMask header to specify the fields you want in the response
Below are some fields. If you are curious to see what fields you want of the Places. You can refer to this Link
places.id,places.displayName,places.formattedAddress,places.photos,places.rating,places.priceLevel,places.googleMapsUri,places.types,places.primaryType,places.reviews,places.userRatingCount,places.delivery,places.dineIn,places.editorialSummary,places.evChargeOptions,places.liveMusic,places.outdoorSeating,places.servesBeer,places.servesBreakfast,places.servesBrunch,places.servesCocktails,places.servesCoffee,places.servesDinner,places.servesLunch,places.servesVegetarianFood,places.servesWine,places.takeout,places.currentOpeningHours,places.nationalPhoneNumber,places.businessStatus
The sample response will look like below
With the Google Places API integrated into your application, you’ve unlocked the power to deliver rich, real-time information to your users. Whether it’s discovering a cozy café, finding the best-rated restaurant, or exploring hidden gems in the city, your app becomes a reliable companion for every user.
This is just the beginning. As you delve deeper, you can leverage advanced features like photos, reviews, and dynamic data to craft experiences that not only inform but inspire. So, start experimenting, keep building, and watch your application transform into something extraordinary.
Happy coding, and Cheers! 🎉
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