Google_directions NPM

google_directions

This NPM Module is the simplest interface for asynchronously querying the Google Directions API (https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/directions/intro) via Node. Find more information about the API here: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/directions/intro.

Installation

npm i google_directions

Get a Google API Key

https://console.developers.google.com/flows/enableapi?apiid=directions_backend&keyType=SERVER_SIDE

Select/Create a Project
Enable Directions API
Generate a Key (See the Credentials Tab)

Usage

Include this. Here are the parameter details.

var map = require('google_directions');

var params = {
	// REQUIRED
	origin: "",
	destination: "",
	key: "",

	// OPTIONAL
	mode: "",
	avoid: "",
	language: "",
	units: "",
	region: "",
};

API Methods

There are six main methods to choose from.

Raw Google Direction API Response (JSON):

// get the raw Google Directions API response as JSON object
map.getDirections(params, function (err, data) {
	if (err) {
		console.log(err);
		return 1;
	}
	console.log(data);
});

Navigation Steps (JSON):

// get navigation steps as JSON object
map.getDirectionSteps(params, function (err, steps){
	if (err) {
		console.log(err);
		return 1;
	}

	// parse the JSON object of steps into a string output
	var output="";
	var stepCounter = 1;
	steps.forEach(function(stepObj) {
		var instruction = stepObj.html_instructions;
		instruction = instruction.replace(/<[^>]*>/g, ""); // regex to remove html tags
		var distance = stepObj.distance.text;
		var duration = stepObj.duration.text;
		output += "Step " + stepCounter + ": " + instruction + " ("+ distance +"/"+ duration+")\n";
		stepCounter++;
	});	
	console.log(output);
});

Total Distance (String):

// get total distance as string
map.getDistance(params, function (err, data) {
	if (err) {
		console.log(err);
		return 1;
	}
	console.log(data);
});

Total Duration (String):

// get total duration as string
map.getDuration(params, function (err, data) {
	if (err) {
		console.log(err);
		return 1;
	}
	console.log(data);
});

Starting Address (String):

// get the starting address as string
map.getOriginAddress(params, function (err, data) {
	if (err) {
		console.log(err);
		return 1;
	}
	console.log(data);
});

Destination Address (String):

// get the destination address as string
map.getDestinationAddress(params, function (err, data) {
	if (err) {
		console.log(err);
		return 1;
	}
	console.log(data);
});

Parameters

origin: staring location
destination: ending location
key: your Google-generated API key
mode: “driving” | “walking” | “bicycling”
- default: driving
avoid: "tolls" | "highways" | "ferries" | "indoor"
- default: none
language: https://developers.google.com/maps/faq#languagesupport
- default: based on origin country
units: "metric" | "imperial"
- default: based on origin country
region: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/directions/intro#RegionBiasing
- default: based on location of user