API Loading
- @googlemaps/js-api-loader:
@googlemaps/js-api-loaderprovides a simple and efficient way to load the Google Maps JavaScript API on demand. It allows you to specify the API version, libraries, and even use multiple instances of the API, which is great for applications that need to load the API conditionally or in different parts of the app. - react-google-maps:
react-google-mapsrequires you to load the Google Maps API separately, giving you full control over how and when the API is loaded. This approach allows for greater flexibility and optimization, especially in large applications where you might want to load the API only when needed. - google-maps-react:
google-maps-reacthandles the loading of the Google Maps API automatically when you use its components. This makes it easy to get started, but it doesn’t offer much flexibility in terms of loading different API versions or libraries. It’s a more opinionated approach that works well for most use cases but may not suit all projects.
Customization
- @googlemaps/js-api-loader:
@googlemaps/js-api-loaderis focused on loading the Google Maps API and does not provide any UI components or customization options for the map itself. It is a lightweight solution that allows developers to implement their own map components and customize them as needed. - react-google-maps:
react-google-mapsprovides the most flexibility for customization, as it is built around the concept of higher-order components. This allows developers to create highly customized map components and integrate them with the Google Maps API in a more granular way. - google-maps-react:
google-maps-reactoffers a good level of customization for its components, including markers, info windows, and map styles. However, it is somewhat limited by the pre-built nature of the components, which may not allow for deep customization in all areas.
Documentation and Community
- @googlemaps/js-api-loader:
@googlemaps/js-api-loaderhas clear and concise documentation, especially for loading the API and managing multiple instances. However, as a relatively new package, its community is still growing, and there may be fewer third-party resources available. - react-google-maps:
react-google-mapsalso has good documentation, particularly for its HOC-based approach to map integration. The community is active, and there are many examples available, but it may not be as large as the one forgoogle-maps-react. - google-maps-react:
google-maps-reacthas extensive documentation and a large community of users, which makes it easy to find examples, tutorials, and support. The library has been around for a while, and its popularity means that many common issues have already been addressed by the community.
Ease of Use: Code Examples
- @googlemaps/js-api-loader:
Loading the Google Maps API with
@googlemaps/js-api-loaderimport { Loader } from '@googlemaps/js-api-loader'; const loader = new Loader({ apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY', version: 'weekly', libraries: ['places'], // Optional }); loader.load().then(() => { const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map'), { center: { lat: -34.397, lng: 150.644 }, zoom: 8, }); }); - react-google-maps:
Creating a Map with
react-google-mapsimport React from 'react'; import { withGoogleMap, GoogleMap, Marker } from 'react-google-maps'; const MyMapComponent = withGoogleMap(() => ( <GoogleMap defaultZoom={8} defaultCenter={{ lat: -34.397, lng: 150.644 }} > <Marker position={{ lat: -34.397, lng: 150.644 }} /> </GoogleMap> )); const App = () => ( <MyMapComponent containerElement={<div style={{ height: '400px' }} />} mapElement={<div style={{ height: '100%' }} />} /> ); export default App; - google-maps-react:
Using
google-maps-reactto Create a Simple Mapimport React from 'react'; import { GoogleApiWrapper, Map, Marker } from 'google-maps-react'; const MapContainer = (props) => { return ( <Map google={props.google} zoom={8} initialCenter={{ lat: -34.397, lng: 150.644 }} > <Marker position={{ lat: -34.397, lng: 150.644 }} /> </Map> ); }; export default GoogleApiWrapper({ apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY', })(MapContainer);
