Build a Google Maps App with Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and React

This article walks you through building a location-aware application using modern web technologies. We’ll cover integrating Google Maps with a Next.js React application, styling it with Tailwind CSS, and leveraging Google Maps APIs for place searching and data retrieval. An accompanying video walks through the full process.

Learn how to create a dynamic and responsive Google Maps application using Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and React. This tutorial covers everything from setting up your Next.js project to integrating Google Maps APIs for location search, place details, and responsive design. Discover how to display nearby locations, implement search functionality, and style your application with Tailwind CSS for a polished user experience.

Project Overview

The application showcases a Google Map on one side and a search bar with category filters on the other. It displays the user’s current location and allows them to search for nearby places of interest, such as gas stations or restaurants. Selecting a category or entering a search query updates the map with corresponding markers. Clicking on a marker reveals the distance from the user’s location. The application is also designed to be fully responsive, adapting to different screen sizes.

Technology Stack

This project utilizes a combination of popular and powerful technologies:

• Next.js: A React framework for building server-rendered and statically generated applications.
• Tailwind CSS: A utility-first CSS framework for styling the application.
• React Google Maps API: A library for integrating Google Maps into React applications.
• Google Maps API: Provides access to Google’s mapping services, including place search and geolocation.
• Heroicons: A library of free SVG icons.

Let’s explore each of these components in more detail.

Next.js

Next.js is a robust framework built on top of React. It offers features like server-side rendering, static site generation, and API route handling, making it ideal for building performant and scalable web applications. Even if you’re new to Next.js or React, this project is designed to be beginner-friendly.

Tailwind CSS

Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework. Instead of pre-designed components, it provides low-level utility classes that you can compose to build custom designs. This approach offers a great deal of flexibility and control over the styling of your application.

React Google Maps API

The React Google Maps API library simplifies the process of integrating Google Maps into your React components. It provides a set of components and hooks that allow you to easily display maps, add markers, and interact with the Google Maps API.

Google Maps API

The Google Maps API is a suite of APIs that provide access to Google’s mapping data and services. In this project, we’ll use the Places API to search for nearby locations and the Maps JavaScript API to display the map. Generating an API key is essential for accessing these services.

Heroicons

Heroicons is a collection of free, MIT-licensed SVG icons that can enhance the visual appeal of your application. They are easily integrated into your project.

Setting Up the Project

To begin, you’ll need to create a new Next.js project. Open your terminal and run the following command:

npx create-next-app my-google-maps-app

Replace "my-google-maps-app" with your desired project name. This command will set up a basic Next.js project with all the necessary files and dependencies. Once the project is created, navigate into the project directory:

cd my-google-maps-app

Next, install the necessary dependencies, including Tailwind CSS and the React Google Maps API library.

Integrating Google Maps

Integrating Google Maps involves obtaining an API key and using the react-google-maps/api library. You will need to enable the Maps JavaScript API and the Places API in your Google Cloud Console. Remember to restrict your API key to prevent unauthorized usage.

After obtaining your API key, you can use the useJsApiLoader hook from the react-google-maps/api library to load the Google Maps API:

javascript import { useJsApiLoader } from ‘@react-google-maps/api’;

const libraries = [‘places’];

function MyMapComponent() { const { isLoaded } = useJsApiLoader({ googleMapsApiKey: ‘YOUR_API_KEY’, libraries: libraries, });

if (!isLoaded) { return

; }

return ( <GoogleMap mapContainerStyle={containerStyle} center={center} zoom={15}

{ / Child components, such as markers, info windows, etc. / } <></> ); }

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual API key. The libraries array specifies which Google Maps libraries to load. In this case, we’re loading the places library for place search functionality.

Implementing Place Search

The Places API allows you to search for nearby locations based on a query or category. You can use the usePlacesAutocomplete hook to implement an autocomplete search bar. This hook provides suggestions as the user types, making it easier to find the desired location.

javascript import usePlacesAutocomplete, { getGeocode, getLatLng, } from "use-places-autocomplete";

const { ready, value, suggestions: { status, data }, setValue, clearSuggestions, } = usePlacesAutocomplete({ requestOptions: { / Define search parameters here / }, debounce: 300, });

const handleInput = (e) => { setValue(e.target.value); };

const handleSelect = async (description) => { setValue(description, false); clearSuggestions();

try { const results = await getGeocode({ address: description }); const { lat, lng } = await getLatLng(results[0]); console.log("Coordinates: ", { lat, lng }); } catch (error) { console.log("Error: ", error); } };

This code snippet demonstrates how to use the usePlacesAutocomplete hook to implement a search bar with autocomplete functionality.

Styling with Tailwind CSS

Tailwind CSS makes it easy to style your application with a consistent and modern look. You can use Tailwind’s utility classes to style the map container, search bar, and other components. For example:

In this example, we’re using Tailwind classes to set the width and height of the map container and to add rounded corners.

Responsive Design

Creating a responsive design ensures that your application looks and functions well on different screen sizes. Tailwind CSS provides responsive modifiers that allow you to apply different styles based on the screen size. For example:

In this example, we’re using the md: prefix to apply different widths to the search bar and map container on medium and larger screens. On smaller screens, the elements will stack vertically.

Key Takeaways

• Next.js is a powerful framework for building modern web applications.
• Tailwind CSS provides a flexible and efficient way to style your application.
• The Google Maps API offers a wide range of mapping services and data.
• Responsive design is essential for creating a user-friendly application.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a Google Maps API key?

You can obtain a Google Maps API key by creating a project in the Google Cloud Console and enabling the necessary APIs (Maps JavaScript API and Places API).

Is the Google Maps API free?

The Google Maps API offers a free tier with usage limits. If your application exceeds these limits, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

How do I make my application responsive?

You can use CSS frameworks like Tailwind CSS or responsive design techniques like media queries to create a responsive application.

What are the benefits of using Next.js?

Next.js offers features like server-side rendering, static site generation, and API route handling, which can improve the performance and SEO of your application.

By following this guide, you’ve learned how to build a Google Maps application using Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and React. You’ve explored the key technologies involved, set up your project, integrated Google Maps, implemented place search, styled your application, and created a responsive design. This project provides a solid foundation for building more complex location-aware applications.

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