google maps: use directly on google server?

Question

Usually u have to set up a little script + htmlpage on your server to run google maps, but i was wondering - is it possible to use google maps directly? i mean by just calling an url with parameters (gpoint coordinates, zoomfactor ..) and it loads the map fullscreen without having to use my own server?

Answer 1

Sounds like you might be after the static maps api. You can build a URL specifying the properties of the map like:

• zoom
• position
• markers (including custom markers)
• image size
• etc

and you will get back a rendered image of the map. Something like:

Obviously this just gives you a fixed image of the map you are after. If you need a dynamic Google map, then you will need to use the Google Maps Javascript API.

Answer 2

Not hosted by Google. You might find some other website that uses the API to do the same thing.