Google Maps Block

Convert addresses to coordinates and back, search for places by text query, and get directions between locations using the Google Maps Platform APIs. Authenticate with a Google Maps API key.

Overview

When to Use

• Convert a street address into latitude/longitude coordinates for downstream mapping or spatial logic.
• Convert raw GPS coordinates back into a human-readable address (reverse geocoding).
• Search for nearby or relevant places using a natural-language text query (e.g., "coffee shops near downtown").
• Get turn-by-turn route data between two locations, with support for driving, walking, bicycling, and transit modes.
• Enrich CRM or form data with validated geographic coordinates.
• Build location-aware workflows that branch or trigger based on proximity or address resolution.

Configuration

Operation

Selects which Google Maps API call this block makes. Every other visible field depends on this selection.

Default: google_maps_geocode.

Address

• Sub-block ID: address
• Type: short-input
• Visible when: Operation = google_maps_geocode
• Placeholder: 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA

The street address you want to convert to coordinates. Accepts any address string that the Google Maps Geocoding API can resolve.

Coordinates (lat,lng)

• Sub-block ID: latlng
• Type: short-input
• Visible when: Operation = google_maps_reverse_geocode
• Placeholder: 40.714224,-73.961452

A comma-separated latitude/longitude pair to convert into a human-readable address. Format must be lat,lng with no spaces.

Query

• Sub-block ID: query
• Type: short-input
• Visible when: Operation = google_maps_place_search
• Placeholder: restaurants in Times Square

A free-text search query passed to the Google Maps Places Text Search API. The query can include place type, name, and location.

Origin

• Sub-block ID: origin
• Type: short-input
• Visible when: Operation = google_maps_directions
• Placeholder: New York, NY

The starting point of the route. Accepts an address string or a lat,lng coordinate pair.

Destination

• Sub-block ID: destination
• Type: short-input
• Visible when: Operation = google_maps_directions
• Placeholder: Boston, MA

The end point of the route. Accepts an address string or a lat,lng coordinate pair.

Travel Mode

• Sub-block ID: mode
• Type: short-input
• Visible when: Operation = google_maps_directions
• Placeholder: driving, walking, bicycling, transit

Optional. Specifies the transportation mode for the route. Accepted values: driving, walking, bicycling, transit. Defaults to driving if omitted.

Google Maps API Key

• Sub-block ID: apiKey
• Type: short-input (password)
• Required: yes
• Visible: always

Your Google Maps Platform API key. The key must have the Geocoding API, Places API, and/or Directions API enabled depending on which operations you use. Store this as a workflow secret and reference it with {{GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY}}.

Inputs & Outputs

Inputs — every field accepted by the block:

• operation (string) — Operation to perform (google_maps_geocode, google_maps_reverse_geocode, google_maps_place_search, or google_maps_directions)
• apiKey (string) — Google Maps API key
• address (string) — Address to geocode (Geocode operation only)
• latlng (string) — Coordinates as lat,lng (Reverse geocode operation only)
• query (string) — Place search query (Place search operation only)
• origin (string) — Directions origin (Directions operation only)
• destination (string) — Directions destination (Directions operation only)
• mode (string) — Travel mode (Directions operation only; optional)

Outputs — fields available to downstream blocks via {{google_maps_1.data}} etc.:

• data (json) — Result array from Google Maps. For Geocode/Reverse geocode: array of geocoding result objects. For Place search: array of place objects. For Directions: array of route objects.
• metadata (json) — Response metadata containing status (string, API response status code such as OK or ZERO_RESULTS) and count (number, number of items returned in data).

Tools

Google Maps Geocode (google_maps_geocode) — Converts a street address into geographic coordinates via the Google Maps Geocoding API (GET /maps/api/geocode/json?address=...). Required params: apiKey, address.

Google Maps Reverse Geocode (google_maps_reverse_geocode) — Converts a lat,lng coordinate pair into a human-readable address via the Google Maps Geocoding API (GET /maps/api/geocode/json?latlng=...). Required params: apiKey, latlng.

Google Maps Place Search (google_maps_place_search) — Searches for places matching a free-text query via the Google Maps Places Text Search API (GET /maps/api/place/textsearch/json?query=...). Required params: apiKey, query.

Google Maps Directions (google_maps_directions) — Returns route and navigation data between an origin and a destination via the Google Maps Directions API (GET /maps/api/directions/json). Required params: apiKey, origin, destination. Optional param: mode.

YAML Example

google_maps_1:
  type: google_maps
  name: "Get Directions"
  inputs:
    operation: google_maps_directions
    apiKey: "{{GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY}}"
    origin: "{{form_1.origin_address}}"
    destination: "{{form_1.destination_address}}"
    mode: driving
  connections:
    outgoing:
      - target: next-block-id