I am writing a simple little web app in JS an want to generate links to locations (lat/lon) that will open in a mobile user's default, native mapping app (vs opening in browser).

e.g. Maps on iOS, Google Maps on Android, etc

Any best practices to acplish this?

I am writing a simple little web app in JS an want to generate links to locations (lat/lon) that will open in a mobile user's default, native mapping app (vs opening in browser).

e.g. Maps on iOS, Google Maps on Android, etc

Any best practices to acplish this?

• javascript
• google-maps
• web-applications
• dictionary
• apple-maps

Share Improve this question Follow asked Feb 24, 2013 at 15:02 Geoff DudgeonGeoff Dudgeon 3111 silver badge33 bronze badges 4

• I don't believe that there is any sort of "geolocation" standard tag attribute; I'm not even sure what tag it'd involve. An <a> tag has to have a URL if it's going to do anything, so perhaps it'd be some sort of "location" URL scheme. Perhaps somebody else knows. – Pointy Commented Feb 24, 2013 at 15:05
• ... something like this I guess, which looks like a good start but I've never seen it in use. – Pointy Commented Feb 24, 2013 at 15:06
• ... and then there's this Stackoverflow question with a link to an IETF proposal for something essentially similar. – Pointy Commented Feb 24, 2013 at 15:09
• ... and hey check this out! – Pointy Commented Feb 24, 2013 at 15:11

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2 Answers 2

Sorted by: Reset to default 3

You can make use of the url scheme and generate a link like this. When the user clicks on the link, it should open a native mapping app instead.

<a href="googlemaps://?center=40.765819,-73.975866&zoom=14&views=traffic">Open map</a>

Here is the references:

iOS map http://developer.apple./library/ios/#featuredarticles/iPhoneURLScheme_Reference/Articles/MapLinks.html

Google map in iOS https://developers.google./maps/documentation/ios/urlscheme

Google map in Android http://developer.android./guide/appendix/g-app-intents.html

Hope these links can help you.

I also have a similar requirement in one of my projects.I did something like this:

<a href=geo:latitude,longitude></a>