Google Maps
Where does Google Maps information come from?
- Listings (text information) combine information from Google web search results, data submitted directly by local business owners, and other sources such as publicly available Yellow Pages directories.
- The map data is sourced largely from NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas.
- The satellite imagery is sourced mostly from DigitalGlobe and MDA Federal. The data is updated consistently, though the frequency of updates varies.
Standard Google search conventions such as exclusion and phrase search can be used with Google Maps. For more information, see "Google search basics".
For other supported forms of i see Ways to describe location in the left panel.
Searching by landmark
Google has many landmarks associated with maps. You can use them instead of i or coordinates:
What landmarks are included in the Google Maps database is somewhat arbitrary. Anyway, it's worth a try.
Searching by Zip code
You can use just the Zip tt of the town:
You can also use a Zip tt to find businesses or other objects in the area:
Searching by coordinates
Google can recognize and translate latitude and longitude coordinates. It's getting more accesible with the proliferation of GPS devices.
Searching an open map
If you are looking at a map and want to locate a business, say a wifi hotspot, in that area - just enter "wifi" in the search box and press Search.
The objects will be shown around the center of the map, if any.
Different ways to describe locations
| Address Format | Example |
| city, state | olympia, wa |
| zip | 10021 |
| address, city, state | 101 e main street, olympia, wa |
| address, city, zip | 101 e main street, olympia, 98500 |
| street intersection, city, state | e main and n kirk, olympia, wa |
| street intersection, zip | e main and n kirk, olympia, 98500 |
| latitude, longitude | 34.767, -82.146 |
| airport code | LAX |
| subway station, country (in UK and Japan only) | paddington, uk |
Searching from the main Google Maps search box.
The easy way to find businesses and other supported objects, such as dentists or high schools, is as follows:
You can also use the word near:
or the search operator loc:
Searching for directions from the main Google Maps search box.
This is a simple way of finding driving directions between cities. If one of the places has a more common name, you'll need to add the state, ex. Springfield, MA.
The same method can be used to find route between street addresses, and any other points specified in any format described in Ways to describe a location.
