[Mapzen Search](https://mapzen.com/projects/search) is a modern, geographic search service based entirely on open-source tools and powered entirely by open data. To start integrating Mapzen Search to your apps, you need a [Mapzen developer API key](api-keys-rate-limits.md). Through a process known as [geocoding](search.md), Mapzen Search allows you to use natural language to find a particular place by entering an address or the name of a landmark or business, and then translates the result in to the geographic coordinates used by computers.

Mapzen Search accesses [global databases](data-sources.md) of place names and locations, but you can receive more locally relevant search results by limiting the search to a particular radius around a location (such as a cell phone), region, or country. With text [autocompletion capabilities](autocomplete.md), you can search for places and match against Mapzen Search data in real-time.

Mapzen Search also enables the opposite workflow, known as [reverse geocoding](reverse.md), to transform latitude and longitude values in to a list of places. This process attempts to find the name and address of the place nearest a longitude and latitude pair. For example, you can click a position on the map to learn which business is located there.

## Features of Mapzen Search

- [Forward geocoding](search.md) to find a place by searching for an address or name
- [Reverse geocoding](reverse.md) to find what is located at a certain coordinate location
- [Autocomplete](autocomplete.md) to give real-time result suggestions without having to type the whole location
- [Global coverage with prioritized local results](data-sources.md)
- Open-source software using [open data sources](data-sources.md)
- [Plug-in for embedding search](https://mapzen.com/documentation/mapzen-js/search/) in a [Leaflet-based](http://leafletjs.com/) map
- API with [generous rate limits](api-keys-rate-limits.md)