Google Maps API warning: NoApiKeys

Question

I've been using Google Maps API v3 for some time without an API key, and it worked well.
It still works, but I get a warning in the console:

Google Maps API warning: NoApiKeys https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/error-messages#no-api-keys

I include the script the standard way:

<script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?libraries=places"></script> 

And google.maps.version indicates that I'm using 3.24.2.

In the Google documentation I can only see the different ways to obtain a key, but there is no indication if it's required or not. I noticed the warning today and I'm quite sure it didn't appear a few weeks ago.

Everything is working fine for now, but I'm afraid that maps access without an API key will be ceased in the future. I'm reluctant to register for a key if I don't absolutely need to.

Should I worry about it?

Answer 1

Creating and using the key is the way to go. The usage is free until your application reaches 25.000 calls per day on 90 consecutive days.

BTW.: In the google Developer documentation it says you shall add the api key as option {key:yourKey} when calling the API to create new instances. This however doesn't shush the console warning. You have to add the key as a parameter when including the api.

<script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=yourKEYhere"></script> 

Get the key here: GoogleApiKey Generation site

Answer 2

A key currently still is not required ("required" in the meaning "it will not work without"), but I think there is a good reason for the warning.

But in the documentation you may read now : "All JavaScript API applications require authentication."

I'm sure that it's planned for the future , that Javascript API Applications will not work without a key(as it has been in V2).

You better use a key when you want to be sure that your application will still work in 1 or 2 years.