#REDIRECT [[Google Maps#Google Maps API]] {{R from merge}} {{R to section}}
The [http://www.google.com/apis/maps/ Google Maps API] was created by Google to facilitate developers integrating Google Maps into their web sites, with their own data points. It is a free service, that currently does not contain ads, but Google states in their [http://www.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html terms of use] that they reserve the right to display ads in the future.
By using the Google Maps API you can embed the full [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] on an external web site (minus driving directions and geocoding.) Start by creating an [http://www.google.com/apis/maps/signup.html API Key], it will be bound to the web site and directory you enter when creating the key. Creating your own map interface involves adding the Google javascript code to your page, and then using javascript functions to add points to the map.
One challenge you may face when adding point data to your maps is getting coordinates for points. The Google API requires you add points by using the latitude and longitude. For this you will need to first geocode your points using a [http://www.batchgeocode.com/ geocoder].
At the same time as the release of the Google Maps API, Yahoo released their own [http://developer.yahoo.com/maps/index.html Maps API]. Both were released to conincide with the [http://conferences.oreillynet.com/where2006/ Where 2.0] Conference. Yahoo Maps lacks international support and aerial photos, but adds a built in geocoder.
==See also==
* [[Google Maps]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/ Google Maps API Documentation]
* [http://www.mapki.com/ GoogleMapki] Reference for Google Maps Developers
