If you are building an end-user application, you can enable `/autocomplete` alongside the `/search` to add real-time feedback to help users find what they are looking for more easily, without requiring them to type the entire search term. Typically, the user starts typing and a drop-down list appears where they can choose the term from the list.
To get started with autocomplete, you need only a developer key and a `text` parameter, representing what a user has typed into your application so far. Optionally, you can specify the number of results to return and where the search should be centered.
To build a query with autocomplete, you need [a free, API developer key](https://mapzen.com/developers) and a `text` parameter, representing what a user has typed into your application so far. Optionally, you can specify the number of results to return and where the search should be centered.
In the interest of not overloading Mapzen search, please allow a reasonable amount of time between user keystrokes before querying. That is, a fast typer may have only milliseconds between keystrokes. Querying Mapzen search on every keystroke would result in a number of requests that would not respond in time to display results before the next request was sent. A good rule of thumb is to allow a delay of `x` milliseconds before sending the entered text.
To avoid overloading the Mapzen Search service, allow a reasonable amount of time between user keystrokes before querying. Querying Mapzen Search on every keystroke would result in a number of requests that would not respond in time to display results before the next request was sent. A recommended practice is to allow a delay of `x` milliseconds before sending the entered text.
### Size
## Available parameters
The default number of results that an autocomplete request will return is 10, but this can be overridden using the `size` parameter. The default value for `size` is `10` and the maximum value is `40`. Specifying a value greater than `40` will override to `40` and return a warning in the response metadata.
To center your search based upon a geographical area, such as a map or the user's current location, supply the parameters `focus.point.lat` and `focus.point.lon`. For example, the following request is centered on northeastern France and is searching for `Strasb`:
To center your search based upon a geographical area, such as a map or the user's current location, supply the parameters `focus.point.lat` and `focus.point.lon`. The following request is centered on northeastern France and is searching for `Strasb`:
By default, an autocomplete request returns 10 results, but this can be overridden up to a maximum of 40 results by including the `size` parameter. Specifying a `size` value greater than 40 will set the value to 40 and return a warning in the response metadata.
rmglennon
9 years ago