Reverse geocode

Learn how to find an address near a location with the geocoding service.

Reverse geocoding is the process of converting a location to an address or place. To reverse geocode, you use the geocoding service and the reverseGeocode operation. This operation requires an initial location and returns an address with attributes such as place name and location.

Esri Leaflet provides a geocoder to access the geocoding service. In this tutorial, you use the reverseGeocode operation to reverse geocode and find the closest address to your clicked location on the map.

Prerequisites

Steps

Create a new pen

1. To get started, you can complete the Display a map tutorial or use the Display a map tutorial solution (CodePen).

Get an access token

You need an access token with the correct privileges to access the resources used in this tutorial.

1. Go to the Create an API key tutorial and create an API key with the following privilege(s):
   

   • Privileges
     • Location services > Basemaps
     • Location services > Geocoding

2. Copy the API key access token to your clipboard when prompted.

3. In CodePen, update the accessToken variable to use your access token.

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         const map = L.map("map", {
           minZoom: 2
         })
   
         map.setView([34.02, -118.805], 13);
   
         const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
   
         const basemapEnum = "arcgis/streets";
   
         L.esri.Vector.vectorBasemapLayer(basemapEnum, {
           token: accessToken
         }).addTo(map);
   

4. Run the code to ensure the basemap is displayed in the map.

To learn about the other types of authentication available, go to Types of authentication.

Reference the geocoder

1. Reference the Esri Leaflet Geocoder plugin.

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       <!-- Load Leaflet from CDN -->
       <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.css" crossorigin="" />
       <script src="https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.js" crossorigin=""></script>
       <!-- Load Esri Leaflet from CDN -->
       <script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet@3.0.12/dist/esri-leaflet.js"></script>
       <script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet-vector@4.2.5/dist/esri-leaflet-vector.js"></script>
   
       <!-- Load Esri Leaflet Geocoder from CDN -->
       <script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet-geocoder@3.1.4/dist/esri-leaflet-geocoder.js"></script>
   

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Update the map

A navigation basemap layer is typically used in geocoding and routing applications. Update the basemap layer to use arcgis/navigation.

1. Update the basemap style and change the map view to center on location [2.3522,48.8566], Paris.

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         const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
   
         const basemapEnum = "arcgis/navigation";
   
         const map = L.map("map", {
           minZoom: 2
         })
   
         map.setView([48.8566, 2.3522], 13); // Paris
   
         L.esri.Vector.vectorBasemapLayer(basemapEnum, {
           token: accessToken
         }).addTo(map);
   

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Call the geocoding service

1. Create a click handler that will call the geocoding service when a user clicks on the map.

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         L.esri.Vector.vectorBasemapLayer(basemapEnum, {
           token: accessToken
         }).addTo(map);
   
         map.on("click", function (e) {
   
         });
   

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2. Call the reverseGeocode operation and set your accessToken. Set the latlng to the LatLng of the location where the user clicks.

   More info

   reverseGeocode queries the geocoding service by default, but can also query other geocoding services.

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         map.on("click", function (e) {
   
           L.esri.Geocoding
             .reverseGeocode({
               apikey: accessToken
             })
             .latlng(e.latlng)
   
         });
   

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3. Execute the request using run and handle any errors within the callback function.

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         map.on("click", function (e) {
   
           L.esri.Geocoding
             .reverseGeocode({
               apikey: accessToken
             })
             .latlng(e.latlng)
   
             .run(function (error, result) {
               if (error) {
                 return;
               }
   
             });
   
         });
   

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Display the result

The response from the operation contains the location of an address or place. Use the results to display them in a Popup.

1. Add a LayerGroup to the map to contain reverse geocoding results. Call the clearLayers method to remove previous results.

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         const layerGroup = L.layerGroup().addTo(map);
   
         map.on("click", function (e) {
   
           L.esri.Geocoding
             .reverseGeocode({
               apikey: accessToken
             })
             .latlng(e.latlng)
   
             .run(function (error, result) {
               if (error) {
                 return;
               }
   
               layerGroup.clearLayers();
   
             });
   
         });
   

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2. Create a Marker at the result coordinates and add it to the layerGroup.

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         const layerGroup = L.layerGroup().addTo(map);
   
         map.on("click", function (e) {
   
           L.esri.Geocoding
             .reverseGeocode({
               apikey: accessToken
             })
             .latlng(e.latlng)
   
             .run(function (error, result) {
               if (error) {
                 return;
               }
   
               layerGroup.clearLayers();
   
               marker = L.marker(result.latlng).addTo(layerGroup);
   
             });
   
         });
   

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3. Add a lngLatString variable that stores the rounded search result coordinates. Append the bindPopup method to the marker to display the coordinates and address of the result.

   More info

   To learn more about using pop-ups with Esri Leaflet, go to the Display a pop-up tutorial.

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         const layerGroup = L.layerGroup().addTo(map);
   
         map.on("click", function (e) {
   
           L.esri.Geocoding
             .reverseGeocode({
               apikey: accessToken
             })
             .latlng(e.latlng)
   
             .run(function (error, result) {
               if (error) {
                 return;
               }
   
               layerGroup.clearLayers();
   
               marker = L.marker(result.latlng).addTo(layerGroup);
   
               const lngLatString = `${Math.round(result.latlng.lng * 100000) / 100000}, ${Math.round(result.latlng.lat * 100000) / 100000}`;
   
               marker.bindPopup(`<b>${lngLatString}</b><p>${result.address.Match_addr}</p>`);
               marker.openPopup();
   
             });
   
         });
   

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Run the app

In CodePen, run your code to display the map.

Click on the map to reverse geocode the clicked point and display a pop-up with the closest address and coordinates.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional ArcGIS location services in these tutorials: