# googlemaps/google-maps-services-python

Python client library for Google Maps API Web Services

Repository: https://github.com/googlemaps/google-maps-services-python
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/google-maps-services-python
Language: Python
License: Apache-2.0
License Family: permissive
Topics: python, client-library
Last push: 2026-07-14T20:59:18+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 64/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 92, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4401, "days_push": 50, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 4973, forks 1360 (observed 2026-08-28T04:09:04.049169+00:00)

## What it is
The official Python client library for Google Maps Platform Web Services, covering Directions, Distance Matrix, Elevation, Geocoding, Geolocation, Time Zone, Roads, Places, Maps Static, and Address Validation APIs. It wraps HTTP requests with authentication, retry, and rate-limit handling so Python applications can call Google Maps services directly.

## Use cases
- geocode addresses to lat/lng in python
- get driving directions between two points
- calculate travel time and distance matrices
- search nearby places with the places api
- validate and correct postal addresses
- look up time zones for coordinates
- snap gps traces to roads

## When to choose
- your python app needs Google Maps Platform web services
- you want an officially maintained client with retries and rate limiting handled
- you need geocoding, directions, places, or address validation from a server

## When to avoid
- you want a free/open geocoding service like OpenStreetMap or Nominatim
- you need interactive maps rendering in a frontend (this is a web-services client, not a map UI)
- you cannot obtain or pay for a Google Maps API key

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: stable
- function: http-client, geospatial, sdk
- domain: apis, developer-tools, travel
- platform: python, cross-platform
- tags: google-maps, geocoding, directions, places-api, client-library, api-wrapper, maps

## Member repositories
- googlemaps/google-maps-services-python (main) score 64

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:09:04.049169+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T18:17:45.017114+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/googlemaps/google-maps-services-python (fetched 2026-08-28T04:09:04.049169+00:00, sha 5fb4ea63aedc)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.