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, 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. To simplify accessing the Geocoding service, you use the locator module.

In this tutorial, you will use the locator 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, either complete the Display a map tutorial or use this pen.

Set the API key

To access ArcGIS services, you need an API key.

1. Go to your dashboard to get an API key.
2. In CodePen, set the apiKey to your key, so it can be used to access basemap layer and location services.

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esriConfig.apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";
const map = new Map({
  basemap: "arcgis/topographic" // basemap styles service
});

Add modules

1. In the require statement, add the locator module.

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      require([
        "esri/config",
        "esri/Map",
        "esri/views/MapView",

        "esri/rest/locator"

      ], function (esriConfig, Map, MapView, locator) {

Update the map

A streets basemap layer is typically used in geocoding applications. Update the basemap property to use the arcgis/navigation basemap layer and change the position of the map to center on Quito.

1. Update the basemap property from arcgis/topographic to arcgis/navigation.

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        esriConfig.apiKey = "YOUR API KEY";

        const map = new Map({
          basemap: "arcgis/navigation"
        });

1. Update the center property to -78.50169,-0.21489, and set the zoom property to 12.

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        const view = new MapView({
          container: "viewDiv",
          map: map,
          center: [-78.50169, -0.21489],
          zoom: 12
        });

Define service url

Use the locator module to access the Geocoding service and the reverseGeocode operation.

1. Define a variable, serviceUrl, to reference the Geocoding service.

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           const view = new MapView({
             container: "viewDiv",
             map: map,
             center: [-78.50169, -0.21489],
             zoom: 12
           });
   
           const serviceUrl = "http://geocode-api.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/World/GeocodeServer";
   

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Reverse geocode

Use a handler to capture a click location on the map and then call the Geocoding service. The service returns an address if an address is found, or an error if it cannot find a result. Display the results in a pop-up with the latitude, longitude, and address.

1. In the main function, add a click handler to the view. Create params and set the location to evt.mapPoint.

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           const serviceUrl = "http://geocode-api.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/World/GeocodeServer";
   
           view.on("click", function (evt) {
             const params = {
               location: evt.mapPoint
             };
   
           });
   

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2. Create a showAddress function to display coordinates and the corresponding address.

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           view.on("click", function (evt) {
             const params = {
               location: evt.mapPoint
             };
   
           });
   
           function showAddress(address, pt) {
             view.openPopup({
               title: +Math.round(pt.longitude * 100000) / 100000 + ", " + Math.round(pt.latitude * 100000) / 100000,
               content: address,
               location: pt
             });
           }
   

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3. Update the click handler to call locationToAddress to reverse geocode the mapPoint. Use the showAddress function to display a pop-up with the results.

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           view.on("click", function (evt) {
             const params = {
               location: evt.mapPoint
             };
   
             locator.locationToAddress(serviceUrl, params).then(
               function (response) {
                 // Show the address found
                 const address = response.address;
                 showAddress(address, evt.mapPoint);
               },
               function (err) {
                 // Show no address found
                 showAddress("No address found.", evt.mapPoint);
               }
             );
   
           });
   

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Run the App

In CodePen, run your code to display the map.

Click on the map to reverse geocode a location and return a pop-up with the closest address.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional API features and ArcGIS services in these tutorials:

• Find places
• Search for an address
• Query a feature layer (SQL)