What exactly constitutes a 'map load' in the context of the API usage limits?

[Richard Davies]

The API FAQ states

A single map load occurs when:

1. the Maps JavaScript API (V2 or V3) is loaded by a web page or application;
2. a SWF that loads the Maps API for Flash is loaded by a web page or application; or
3. a single request is made for a map image from the Static Maps API.
4. a single request is made for a panorama image from the Street View Image API.

The degree to which a user interacts with a map once it has been loaded has no impact on the usage limits.

In regards to item "A" above, does a map load occur when a page requests the Maps API JavaScript file, or when a map is actually displayed on a page? For example, if the JavaScript file is included in a standard header used by a CMS, will every page count as a map load even if no maps are ever displayed on most of those pages?

[Rossko]

> In regards to item "A" above, does a map load occur when a page requests
> the Maps API JavaScript file

" A single map load occurs when:
1. the Maps JavaScript API (V2 or V3) is loaded by a web page "
it seems clear enough

> For example, if the JavaScript file is included in a standard header
> used by a CMS, will every page count as a map load even if no maps are ever
> displayed on most of those pages?

It would seem so, this should encourage the removal of unnecessary
calls to Google!

[Richard Davies]

It would seem pretty clear, except that we were previously told this by someone on the Maps API team:

Rather than count the Maps API script tag load, we will trigger a count event when a map is successfully displayed. This ensures that sites that include the script tag on pages that do not actually display a map (surprisingly common due to the use of standardised headers in content management systems) are only charged for those pages where the API is actually used.

But my testing leads me to believe that it is actually counting every script tag load regardless of whether or not a map is displayed on the page.

Because I figured other people would probably have the same question I started this discussion because I wanted an opportunity to publicly discuss the question and determine if the current behavior is the correct behavior that we should expect, or if there's a problem that needs fixed in order to make it conform to their previous explanation.

[John Coryat]

There's another (potentially distressing) way a map load might occur. One of my map sites has recently been "attacked" by the "FunWebProducts" bot that so many people have downloaded to their browsers. There were days I was seeing over 100,000 hits on the index of the site, many times the real volume and often the same IP would retrieve the index 400 to 1000 times in a single day. Several IP's were seeing 5,000 hits on the index in a single day. What's distressing about this is the AdSense script was successfully loaded and an ad impression registered but obviously no clicks. This made the CTR extremely low and the cost per click started dropping.

I had to alter the site to include a dummy index page to stop this from happening. If this had happened once the monitoring and charging for map loads started, it could have really hurt.

Does a browser based bot like "FunWebProducts" cause a map load to be registered? I would bet it does as "FunWebProducts" is pretty good at getting JavaScript to do its thing. It fooled AdSense and they are a smart bunch of folks over there.

-John Coryat

[Luke Mahé]

Hi Richard,

Where did you hear that you be able to trigger a map when it is successfully displayed?

-- Luke

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Maps JavaScript API v3" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/google-maps-js-api-v3/-/pMQF3U34r8YJ.

To post to this group, send email to google-map...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to google-maps-js-a...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/google-maps-js-api-v3?hl=en.

[Richard Davies]

Luke,

We sent Alex Juhola an email with some questions we had regarding the changes to the API usage and received that response in an email reply from Thor Mitchell.

[Richard Davies]

No problem. I've just forwarded the email to your email address.

[Richard Davies]

I see that the FAQ has been updated to make it more clear, but I'm still seeing a map load being triggered when the script is loaded even if it doesn't actually display a map.