AI-generated Key Takeaways

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• The Address Validation API validates, standardizes, and geocodes addresses, improving delivery predictability and customer experience.

• It identifies address components, validates them for correctness, and provides suggestions for corrections, unlike the Geocoding API, which only converts addresses to coordinates.

• Addresses are processed by correcting, completing, and formatting components, with CASS™ support for US and Puerto Rico addresses for enhanced accuracy (requires enabling).

• Developers can access resources like a demo, coverage details, setup instructions, validation requests, response understanding, and client libraries to utilize the API effectively.

• USPS evaluates requests for artificially created addresses, and Google is obligated to stop validation and report relevant information to USPS in such cases.

Introduction

The Address Validation API is a service that accepts an address.It identifies address components and validates them. It also standardizes theaddress for mailing and finds the best known latitude/longitude coordinates for it.Optionally, for addresses in the United States and Puerto Rico, you can enabletheCoding Accuracy Support System (CASS™).

Why use the Address Validation API

With the Address Validation API, you can improve delivery predictability and reducedelivery failures, thereby providing improved customer experience. You do thisby catching bad addresses and obtaining better awareness of addresscharacteristics.

The Geocoding API might be a better match for your needs if youdon't need to validate the individual address components. The Geocoding APIconverts addresses into latitude and longitude coordinates. TheAddress Validation API validates addresses forcorrectness. SeeBuilding location validation capability using Google Maps Platform in the Architecture Center for a detailed comparison.

What you can do with the Address Validation API

inputTry the demo

With the Address Validation API, you can determine if an addressrefers to a real place. If the address does not refer to a realplace, the API can identify possibly wrong components that you can present toyour customers to correct. Here is a sample workflow using the API:

1. Customer enters an address – The following image shows a basic formthat allows a customer to enter an address, possibly as part of a checkoutflow.

2. App sends the address to the API – The application passes this addressas the input to the Address Validation API.

   

3. API validates and standardizes the address – In its response, theAddress Validation API returns the complete address as determined by the API, orindicates where information is missing.

4. Customer confirms or corrects the address – Depending onwhat the API returns, you can provide the following prompts to the customer:A. Confirm the recommended address.B. Provide missing information.C. Fix the address.

   

How the Address Validation API works

The address validation accepts a POST request with the address in the formof a JSON body. It separates the address into its individual components, andthen attempts the following:

• Corrects—Provides component-level validation checks, includingsub-premises where available.
• Completes—Attempts to infer missing or incorrect address components.
• Formats—Cleans up and standardizes the format for address components.

Resources

The following table summarizes the resources available through theAddress Validation API along with the data it returns. For specific details, see theAddress Validation API reference.

Data resources	Data returned
Address components in JSON format. SeeValidate an address.	Complete, validated address (if possible). Validation status of each address component. Where available for an address: Geocode Address precision Postal services data, where available. SeeUnderstand the validation response.

How to use the Address Validation API

1	Try the demo	Explore the demo with a variety of address forms, both correct and incorrect. The demo provides a useful way to explore both the return values from the service, as well as the JSON formatted API response.
2	Check coverage	Reviewcoverage details to see which countries and regions the Address Validation API supports.
3	Get set up	Start withSet up your Google Cloud project and complete the instructions that follow.
4	Request an address validation	Start with a basic address and then, for additional accuracy, you can enable CASS (for US and PR addresses only). SeeRequest an address validation.
5	Process a response	The Address Validation API response provides two properties, each of which you use in different ways. SeeUnderstand a basic response.
6	Improve validation accuracy	You can help improve address accuracy by providing feedback on Address Validation API responses. SeeHandle updated addresses.

Available client libraries

For a list of the available client libraries for Address Validation API,seeClient libraries.

About CASS™

The United States Postal Service® (USPS®)¹ maintains theCoding Accuracy Support System (CASS™) to support and certify address validation providers. A CASS Certified™ service,such as the Address Validation API, has been confirmed for itsability to fill in information missing from an address, standardize it, andupdate it to give you the most current and most accurate address.

CASS is not enabled by default and is only supported for the "US" and "PR"regions. To enable CASS, setenableUspsCass totrue as part of a validationrequest. For more information, seeValidate an address.

As part of our use of USPS services, USPS evaluates requests for artificiallycreated addresses. If USPS identifies an input address as being artificiallycreated, Google is required to stop validating addresses for the customer andmust report the customer's contact information (name and address), the relevantinput address, and aggregated usage data to USPS. By using the API you consentto theseService Specific Terms.

What's next

• Try the demo: Go toDemo
• Review coverage areas: Go toCountry and region coverage details
• Try your first validation request: Go toSend an address validation request
• Process addresses at high volume: Go toUse Address Validation API to process addresses at high volume