Using google map service without API key

To use google map service, you are instructed by the developer manual to generate an api key using your google account.You may have to cough up money to google if the number of hits to your site increase beyond a certain number.

But can we do the same sans api key ? +

Yes, well at-least for the geocoding and reverse geocoding service.

All you have to do is to ping :  https://maps.google.com/maps?q="location name"

example  https://maps.google.com/maps?q=washington or https://maps.google.com/maps?q=new+york

see how i replace spaces with + in the url.

To use it locally request data in json format, something like https://maps.google.com/maps?q="location name"&output=json

All you have to do is parse it for the required fields and there you have it,your data with no api key. Don't we love free stuff !!