How to format and encode address when using GeocodingApi ?

[YLombardi]

I'm working on a Spring application that uses google-maps-service 2.0.0. I try to use the GeocodingApi but I don't understand how to format the address. Do you know if there is a documentation that explains how to use this ?

In the official Google documentation, there is exemples for the javascript api, like this : https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/geocoding-simple

And the Java documentation redirect to this repository, where I found this exemple :

GeocodingResult[] results =  GeocodingApi.geocode(context,
    "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043").await();

Here is some exemple I tried, I'm exepecting the api to return something like "Chambéry, France" or "Savoie, France" :

// Full address without encoding
GeocodingApi.geocode(context, "FR 73000 Chambéry").region("FR").await()
// result[0].addressComponents => 73000 Chambéry, France => OK

// Full address with spaces encoding
GeocodingApi.geocode(context, "FR+73000+Chambéry").region("FR").await()
// result[0].addressComponents => 73000 Chambéry, France => OK

// Full address with full utf8 encoding
GeocodingApi.geocode(context, "FR+73000+Chamb%C3%A9ry").region("FR").await()
// result[0].addressComponents => France => KO, I shouldn't encode special chars in city names.

Here it seems that the encoding of spaces isn't necessary and special chars should not be encoded.

// Zip code and country code
GeocodingApi.geocode(context, "FR 73").region("FR").await()
// result[0] => null 

// Country code and zip code
GeocodingApi.geocode(context, "73 FR").region("FR").await()
// result[0] => null 

// Zip code and country code with spaces encoding
GeocodingApi.geocode(context, "FR+73").region("FR").await()
// result[0].addressComponents => Savoie, France => OK

// Country code and zip code with spaces encoding
GeocodingApi.geocode(context, "73+FR").region("FR").await()
// result[0].addressComponents => 6673+FR La Celle-sous-Gouzon, France => Wrong result

Here it seems that encoding the spaces is necessary, and I need to put the Country code before the zip code.

Can I assume that it is always the good pratice to do this ? (encoding spaces and always have the country code first)

[jpoehnelt]

@YLombardi Thank you for opening this issue. 🙏 Please check out these other resources that might be applicable:

• Support Console - If you have a support contract.
• Discord - chat with other developers
• StackOverflow - use the google-maps tag
• Google Maps Platform issue trackers

This is an automated message, feel free to ignore.

[stale[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. Please comment here if it is still valid so that we can reprioritize. Thank you!

[wangela]

Indeed, you should encode the address. The region parameter is optional. See related documentation and URL encoding tips.