ZipCodeAPI is a free API service to convert ZIP codes to Location. This API takes a ZIP code from you and returns details about the corresponding location. It produces a JSON response by default that shows details about the location whose ZIP code you supply. In the response, you can see parameters like city, state, timezone, longitude, latitude, UTC Offset, and some others. To use this API, you will have to generate a free key and then use that from your browser or use CLI to make request. In the free plan, it lets you make 10 request per hour. And not only JSON, but this API lets you fetch the response in XML and CSV format as well.
APIs save a lot of lines of code when you are creating your own mobile and web applications. If your app uses ZIP code information of a user then you can use the set of APIs this service has. But in this post, I will talk about its API which allows you to convert a given ZIP code to a location. This is a simple API and you just have to create a API URL and then make request to the specified endpoint. If you don’t know how to create an API call URL then don’t worry as there is API request builder available on its web interface.
How to Convert Zip Codes to Location using this API?
I have already mentioned above that you will need an API key to use this service. So use this link to reach the homepage of this service and then sign up for a free API key. After that, just use the online API call builder on the website. You can test the API there before actually using in your applications.
If you don’t want to use the API call builder then you can do that by yourself. You can use the following mentioned syntax to create the API call and then use it in CLI or simply paste it in the address bar of the browser. You will see the response in the format you specify in the call URL.
Syntax: https://www.zipcodeapi.com/rest/API_Key/info.Response_Format/ZIP_Code/degrees Example: https://www.zipcodeapi.com/rest/cfNxxxxxxxxxxxVqdkziw/info.xml/90001/degrees
In the above mentioned syntax, replace API_Key, Response_Format, and ZIP_Code based on what parameters you have. After that, you will see the response as shown in the screenshot above.
In this way, this API works to let you convert given ZIP Code to a location. You just make then API call URL and then paste that in browser and see the response. Also, you can use this in command line to get the response for the supplied ZIP code.
Final thoughts
If you need an API which can convert a given ZIP code to location then use the one mentioned above. This is a very simple API that you can use in your web and mobile applications. If a user don’t allow his location in the forms or other platform then you can use his ZIP code to identify his location. Also, if you have any other use for this API then I am sure that it will not let you down.
