Suggest - Amazon Location Service
Use casesUnderstand the requestUnderstand the response

Suggest

Suggest provides predictions or recommendations based on user input or context, such as relevant places, points of interest, query terms, or search categories. It assists users in finding places, points of interest, or identifying follow-up queries based on incomplete or misspelled input. The API returns a list of possible matches or refinements, which can be used to formulate a more accurate query. Users can select the appropriate suggestion for further searching. The API supports filtering results by location and other attributes and offers additional features like phonemes and time zones. The response includes refined query terms and detailed place information.

Note

By default, the Suggest API returns only ID and Title fields, providing a cost-effective option. Additional address components and highlights can be requested by setting additionalFeatures to Core. Refer to Places pricing for cost implications related to stored results.

For more information, see Suggest in the Amazon Location Service API Reference.

For example requests, responses, cURL, and CLI commands for this API, see How to use Suggest.

Use cases

  • Ride-Hailing Services: Provide real-time suggestions to quickly complete addresses for pick-up and drop-off locations, ensuring accuracy and faster ride booking.

  • Travel and Navigation Services: Offer real-time predictions for locations or landmarks, even for misspelled or partially entered terms, such as "Eifel" for "Eiffel Tower." The API refines suggestions to offer relevant nearby points of interest, helping users locate places accurately.

  • Restaurant Search Assistance: Anticipate users' interests in restaurants and suggest nearby dining options, enhancing the search experience.

Understand the request

The Suggest API request uses parameters to generate suggestions based on user input. Optional parameters allow for refined search results using location bias and filtering criteria. For more details, refer to the Suggest API Reference.

The request includes the following key parameters:

Authentication

The Key parameter is optional if other authentication methods are used.

  • Key: API key for authorization.

For more information, see Authenticate with Amazon Location Service

Querying

Defines the free-text search and location bias.

  • QueryText: Free-form text for generating suggestions. (required)

  • BiasPosition: Prioritizes suggestions near a specific longitude and latitude.

For more information, see Querying and biasing

Refining results

Filters results to narrow down search criteria.

  • Filter: Allows filtering by bounding box or circular area to limit search results.

For more details, see Filtering

Internationalization and Localization

Options for customizing the language and applying a political view to the results.

  • Language: Specifies the language of the results.

  • PoliticalView: Applies a political view reflecting territorial claims.

For more information, see Localization and internationalization

Additional features

Requests extra data, such as time zone information.

  • AdditionalFeatures: Option to request additional details such as time zone or phonetic data.

For more information, see Additional features

Limiting results

Sets limits on the number of results or query refinements returned.

  • MaxQueryRefinements: Limits the number of query refinement terms returned.

  • MaxResults: Limits the number of suggestions returned.

Understand the response

The response provides suggested addresses or places based on the input query, with attributes such as location, address details, business chains, contacts, phonemes, time zone, and opening hours. The API returns ResultItems, representing possible matches for completing the input query. There are two types of results, identified by SuggestResultItemType: results of type Query suggest a follow-up category or chain query, which can be used to obtain focused results for a specified category by passing the QueryID to the SearchText API. Results of type Place provide a final result with an address and additional information about the place. For further details, refer to the API Reference for Suggest API.

The response includes the following key data:

Result analysis

Provides information on refining the input query.

  • QueryRefinements: Terms that can be used to refine the search query.

  • Highlights: Highlights parts of the address or title that match the query.

Place types and categories

Describes the type and category of the place.

  • Categories: Categories describing the place, such as Restaurants or Schools.

  • PlaceType: Specifies the type of place, such as a city, address, or region.

  • BusinessChains: Indicates any associated business chains.

Additional details

Additional information about the place, as specified in the request.

  • Contacts: Provides emails, phone numbers, and websites.

  • OpeningHours: Operational hours of the place.

  • AccessPoints: Geographic coordinates associated with the place.

  • Phonemes: Phonetic representations of address components.

  • TimeZone: Time zone information, including offset.