Easy Google Maps with jQuery

The other day I needed a simple way to include a Google Map, so I wrote this jQuery function.

$.fn.googleMap = function(address, options) {
  var defaults = {
    lat: 44.081996,
    long: -123.0286928,
    zoom: 14,
    mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.HYBRID
  };

  options = $.extend(defaults, options || {});

  var center = new google.maps.LatLng(options.lat, options.long);
  var map = new google.maps.Map(this.get(0), $.extend(options, { center: center }));

  var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
  geocoder.geocode({ address: address }, function(results, status) {
    if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK && results.length) {
      if (status != google.maps.GeocoderStatus.ZERO_RESULTS) {
        map.setCenter(results[0].geometry.location);
        var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
            position: results[0].geometry.location,
            map: map
        });
      }
    }
  });
};

Basically, the lat & long are default coordinates, but you pass in an address which Google focuses the map on.

This requires the latest (v3) version of the Google Map API.

Usage

<script src='http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false' type='text/javascript'>
</script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
  $(document).ready(function() {
    $('#map-container').googleMap("3333 RiverBend Drive, Springfield, OR");
  });
</script>

Comments?

Let me know at thomas@awardwinningfjords.com and I'll amend the article as necessary.