The Elevation API provides elevation data for all locations on the
surface of the earth, including depth locations on the ocean floor (which
return negative values).
This service is also available as part of the client-side
[Maps JavaScript API](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/elevation.md.txt),
or for server-side use with the
[Java Client,
Python Client, Go Client and Node.js Client for Google Maps Services](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/client-library).

## Sample request and response

You access the Elevation API through an HTTP interface, with
requests constructed as a URL string, using latitude/longitude coordinates to
identify the locations or path vertices. Requests must include your API key.

The following example requests the elevation for Denver, Colorado, the
"Mile High City", in JSON format:

### URL

```html
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/elevation/json?locations=39.7391536%2C-104.9847034&key=YOUR_API_KEY
```

### cURL

```bash
curl -L -X GET 'https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/elevation/json?locations=39.7391536%2C-104.9847034&key=YOUR_API_KEY'
```

You can test this by entering the URL into your web browser (be sure to replace
`YOUR_API_KEY` with [your actual API key](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/start.md.txt#get-a-key)). The response includes
the elevation at that point, in meters, along with the resolution value (the
maximum distance between data points from which the elevation was interpolated,
in meters).

View the [developer's guide](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/overview.md.txt)
for more information about
[building request URLs and available parameters](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/overview.md.txt#ElevationRequests)
and [understanding the response](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/overview.md.txt#ElevationResponses).

Following is a sample response:

### JSON

```json
      
{
  "results":
    [
      {
        "elevation": 1608.637939453125,
        "location": { "lat": 39.7391536, "lng": -104.9847034 },
        "resolution": 4.771975994110107,
      },
    ],
  "status": "OK",
}
      
      
```

### XML

```
  
  <ElevationResponse>
  <status>OK</status>
  <result>
    <location>
    <lat>39.7391536</lat>
    <lng>-104.9847034</lng>
    </location>
    <elevation>1608.6379395</elevation>
    <resolution>4.7719760</resolution>
  </result>
  </ElevationResponse>
</pre>
      
    
```

## Start coding with our client libraries

Client libraries make developing with the Google Maps web service APIs easier by
providing built-in implementations of common tasks, such as authentication,
request throttling and automatic retry. The Elevation API is
available in the [Java Client,
Python Client, Go Client and
Node.js Client for Google Maps Services](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/client-library).

## Authentication, quotas, pricing, and policies

### Authentication

To use the Elevation API, you must first enable the API and obtain
the proper authentication credentials. For more information, see [Get Started
with Google Maps Platform](https://developers.google.com/maps/get-started).

### Quotas and pricing

Review the [usage and billing](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/usage-and-billing.md.txt)
page for details on the quotas and pricing set for the Elevation API.

### Policies

Use of the Elevation API must be in accordance with the
[API policies](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/policies.md.txt).

## Learn more

There's more you can do with the Elevation API, like [requesting
elevation data from multiple
locations](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/overview#PointElevation). See the [Elevation API Developer's
Guide](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/overview) for more examples and other
details.

The [Elevation API Developer's
Guide](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/overview) is intended for website and
mobile developers who want to use elevation data within maps provided by one of
the Google Maps Platform APIs. It provides an introduction to using the API
and reference material on the available parameters.