Ionic 5 Native Google Maps using Cordova Plugin Tutorial with Example Application

In this Ionic 5/4 tutorial, we will implement Google Maps in Ionic Angular App using Cordova and Ionic Native plugins.

As we have already discussed How to Add Google Maps using JavaScript API in Ionic Applications, in this post we will implement Google Maps Cordova plugin using SDK. In comparison to JavaScript API Native SDK, Google Maps are more fast and efficient in terms of performance in mobile applications. Ionic Native Google Maps have more features than we can implement in a fully-featured mobile application with Google Maps like in Native Android or IOS applications. We can easily implement following in Google Maps using this Native Cordova plugin.

– Shapes like circle
– Geocoding
– Custom Draggable Marker and Clusters
– Custom elements like polygon and polylines
– Street Views

and much more…

Here we will create an Ionic 4 Application and Implement Ionic Native Google Maps Plugin. As Ionic version 4 is still in beta phase so we will add a beta version of the Google Maps plugin.

Let’s get started!

Create a new application using Ionic CLI

To create an application you must have NodeJS and Ionic Cordova CLI

$ npm install -g ionic cordova

Run the following command to create a new application

$ ionic start Ionic4GoogleMapsSDK blank --type=angular
$ cd Ionic4GoogleMapsSDK

for Ionic 3 just remove –type=angular

Install Ionic Native Google Maps Cordova and Ionic Native  Plugin

Run following commands in the application root to install Cordova in Ionic native plugin. We also need Google API Key to integrate Google Maps API in the application.

Visit here to know more about How to Get Google API Key?

$ npm install @ionic-native/core@beta @ionic-native/google-maps@beta
$ ionic cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-googlemaps --variable API_KEY_FOR_ANDROID="YOUR_API_KEY_HERE" --variable API_KEY_FOR_IOS="YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"

for Ionic 3 run following

$ npm install @ionic-native/core @ionic-native/google-maps
$ ionic cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-googlemaps --variable API_KEY_FOR_ANDROID="YOUR_API_KEY_HERE" --variable API_KEY_FOR_IOS="YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"

Set Environment Variables in the Application Component

In the app.component.ts file, replace following code with environment variables set with Google API Key.

import { Component } from '@angular/core';

import { Platform } from '@ionic/angular';
import { SplashScreen } from '@ionic-native/splash-screen/ngx';
import { StatusBar } from '@ionic-native/status-bar/ngx';
import { Environment } from '@ionic-native/google-maps';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-root',
  templateUrl: 'app.component.html'
})
export class AppComponent {
  constructor(
    private platform: Platform,
    private splashScreen: SplashScreen,
    private statusBar: StatusBar
  ) {
    this.initializeApp();
  }

  initializeApp() {
    this.platform.ready().then(() => {

      Environment.setEnv({
        // api key for server
        'API_KEY_FOR_BROWSER_RELEASE': 'YOUR_API_KEY_HERE',

        // api key for local development
        'API_KEY_FOR_BROWSER_DEBUG': 'YOUR_API_KEY_HERE'
      });

      this.statusBar.styleDefault();
      this.splashScreen.hide();
    });
  }
}

Load map and initialize in canvas on the homepage

In home.page.ts component file call method to load and draw the map in div “map_canvas”

import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
import {
  ToastController,
  Platform
} from '@ionic/angular';
import {
  GoogleMaps,
  GoogleMap,
  GoogleMapsEvent,
  Marker,
  GoogleMapsAnimation,
  MyLocation
} from '@ionic-native/google-maps';


@Component({
  selector: 'app-home',
  templateUrl: 'home.page.html',
  styleUrls: ['home.page.scss'],
})
export class HomePage implements OnInit {

  map: GoogleMap;
  address:string;

  constructor(
    public toastCtrl: ToastController,
    private platform: Platform
    ) { }

  ngOnInit() {
    // Since ngOnInit() is executed before `deviceready` event,
    // you have to wait the event.
    this.platform.ready();
    this.loadMap();
  }

  loadMap() {
    this.map = GoogleMaps.create('map_canvas', {
      // camera: {
      //   target: {
      //     lat: 43.0741704,
      //     lng: -89.3809802
      //   },
      //   zoom: 18,
      //   tilt: 30
      // }
    });
    this.goToMyLocation();
  }


  goToMyLocation(){
    this.map.clear();

    // Get the location of you
    this.map.getMyLocation().then((location: MyLocation) => {
      console.log(JSON.stringify(location, null ,2));

      // Move the map camera to the location with animation
      this.map.animateCamera({
        target: location.latLng,
        zoom: 17,
        duration: 5000
      });

      //add a marker
      let marker: Marker = this.map.addMarkerSync({
        title: '@ionic-native/google-maps plugin!',
        snippet: 'This plugin is awesome!',
        position: location.latLng,
        animation: GoogleMapsAnimation.BOUNCE
      });

      //show the infoWindow
      marker.showInfoWindow();

      //If clicked it, display the alert
      marker.on(GoogleMapsEvent.MARKER_CLICK).subscribe(() => {
        this.showToast('clicked!');
      });

      this.map.on(GoogleMapsEvent.MAP_READY).subscribe(
        (data) => {
            console.log("Click MAP",data);
        }
      );
    })
    .catch(err => {
      //this.loading.dismiss();
      this.showToast(err.error_message);
    });
  }

  async showToast(message: string) {
    let toast = await this.toastCtrl.create({
      message: message,
      duration: 2000,
      position: 'middle'
    });
    toast.present();
  }
}

In home.page.html add following HTML div to load maps.

<ion-header>
  <ion-toolbar>
    <ion-title>
      Ionic Google SDK Maps
    </ion-title>
  </ion-toolbar>
</ion-header>

<ion-content padding>
    <div id="map_canvas"></div>
</ion-content>

Add the following style to give height and width to Map container in home.page.scss file.

  #map_canvas {
    width: 100%;
    height: 80vh;
  }

Now its done from the code point of view we will now successfully load a simple map in div we defined.

Now you can check your map by running following command

$ ionic cordova run browser

instead of $ ionic serve –open otherwise it will give the following error

[GoogleMaps]
You need to execute "$> ionic cordova run browser".
"$> ionic serve" is not supported.

You can check the demo project and other samples here for Ionic’s version 4 and here for Ionic 3 Demo code