Exploring the Google Maps API

If you have been reading this book from the beginning, you probably remember that we have already encountered Google Maps previously. As a map geek, you probably might have used Google Maps on your websites.

The map application uses the Google Maps API, a JavaScript framework that you can incorporate in your application to build maps. Most users utilize the Google Maps API to build maps with the datasets from Google, the same that you can see when using the Google application.

However, the API also supports the WMS standard, thereby enabling you to get data from any Map Server compliant with the standard. We will go over several examples using version 3 of the Google Maps API, and how to incorporate the GeoServer layers.

Let's start with a very simple map.

Note

The Google Maps API is not an Open Source software. Before you use it, you should carefully read the terms of agreement and usage limits at https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/usage...