Editor’s Note: ‘Map Tips’ are designed to answer frequently asked questions about using Google Maps APIs. For important tips on how to deploy Google’s mapping tools, read more from Brad Songer, Google Maps Program Manager.
We find that when developers are migrating their applications from their development environment to production, many are moving from using our free Maps APIs to Google’s premium APIs. Premium Google Maps APIs are covered by the premium Service Level Agreement which includes higher quota limits and access to premium/live support channels. Here are some important tips to help you get started with our premium products.
Implementing your Client ID
Your unique Client ID comes with the Google Maps APIs Welcome Letter. The Welcome Letter is typically sent to your technical contact. If you did not receive your welcome letter, you can also visit the Google for Work Support Portal, which will provide you with your Client ID.
Your Client ID is how Google identifies you—and your application—as a licensed customer entitled to a premium Service Level Agreement from Google.
There are only a few, simple steps to make sure your application is leveraging these advantages as it moves into production. Essentially, your Client ID will replace the Project Key previously used in the applications API calls to Google’s servers while in development. The example below illustrates the before-and-after scenario using the Client ID, ‘gme-droidsdonuts'.
Chrome Developer Tools make it easy to visually review your application’s HTML to check that your Client ID is deployed, or that you haven’t missed replacing any Project Keys in API calls. The Google for Work Support Portal provides another great reference by displaying a record of pageviews and web service calls made by your Client ID. Between Chrome Developer Tools and the Google for Work Support Portal, you have two great ways to verify your application is launching with a premium SLA.
Authorizing Domains
To protect your projects and applications, Google will always validate your API calls to ensure only authorized domains are using your Client ID. Any API calls from an unauthorized domain will return an error and not count against your quota.
You can review authorized domains (e.g. yourbiz.com), and authorize additional domains (e.g. yourpartnerbiz.com) at any time through the Google for Work Support Portal. If you run into authorization problems, check out our troubleshooting guidelines or contact support for help.
In addition to your Client ID, calls to Google Maps Web Service APIs (Geocoding, Directions, Distance Matrix, Elevation, Time Zone, and Roads) require an extra layer of authorization with a cryptographic signing key. The ‘crypto key’ ensures that Web Service API request that include your Client ID and an authorized domain, in fact, are originating from a trusted source.
Keep in mind the crypto key alone is not a signature, but simply generates signatures. Like a password, it should never be shared or left in a vulnerable area where it can be copied. To learn more, please visit the Authentication and Authorization page.
You’re All Set
Now that you've deployed your Client ID, set-up authorized domains, and you’re generating unique signatures using your crypto key, you're ready to launch your app with increased quotas, the confidence of a business friendly SLA and support. If you have more questions, take a look at our developer documentation, where you’ll find product-related FAQs, articles and other resources.
If you hit a technical snag with our APIs, please file a case with our live support team. We’ll address your deployment problem as quickly as possible. For a step-by-step tutorial on replacing your project key with your Client ID, take a look at our video.