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Search API
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Category Search

 

Service version: 2
Last edit: 2019.03.28

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Purpose

If your search use case only requires POI (Points of Interest) results filtered by category, you may use the Category Search endpoint. This endpoint will only return POI results which are categorized as specified.

To view the list of available categories, see the following section. Click "...Show more" to expand/collapse the list and view its content.

List of available categories (note that this category list is subject to change with a new data release):

"(sub) urban", "access gateway", "administrative area", "administrative division", "adventure sports venue", "adventure vehicle", "advertising/marketing", "afghan", "african", "agricultural school", "agricultural supplies", "agricultural technology", "agriculture", "airfield", "airline", "airline access", "airport", "algerian", "ambulance unit", "american", "amphitheater", "amusement arcade", "amusement park", "amusement place", "anabranch", "animal services", "animal shelter", "antique/art", "apartment", ...Show more

Run this endpoint

You can easily run this and other endpoints.

  1. Go to the TomTom API Explorer page.
  2. Click an endpoint.
    1. Click Try it out.
    2. Enter/select all required parameter values and any optional parameter values.
    3. At the bottom of the form, click Execute.
  3. Review the Response.

Request data

HTTPS Method: GET

URL format

GET https://<baseURL>/search/<versionNumber>/categorySearch/<query>.<ext>?key=<Your_API_Key>[&typeahead=<typeahead>][&limit=<limit>][&ofs=<ofs>][&lat=<lat>][&lon=<lon>][&countrySet=<countrySet>][&radius=<radius>][&topLeft=<topLeft>][&btmRight=<btmRight>][&language=<language>][&extendedPostalCodesFor=<extendedPostalCodesFor>][&view=<view>]

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Request parameters

The following table describes the parameters that can be used in a Request.

  • Required parameters must be used or the call will fail.
  • Optional parameters, which are highlighted with [square brackets], may be used.
  • If there is a default value that will be assumed when an optional parameter is not used, it is shown in the table.
  • The order of request parameters is not important.
Required parameters
Parameter Description
baseURL
string		 Base URL for calling the API.
Value: api.tomtom.com
versionNumber
string		 Service version number.
Value: The current value is 2.
query
string		 Query string. Must be properly URL encoded.
Value: A properly URL encoded query string.
ext
string		 A valid Response format.
Values: JSON, JSONP, JS, or XML
key
string		 An API Key valid for the requested service.
Value: Your valid API Key.
Optional parameters
Parameter Description
[typeahead]
boolean		 If the "typeahead" flag is set, the query will be interpreted as a partial input and the search will enter predictive mode.
Default value: false
[limit]
integer		 Maximum number of responses that will be returned.
Default value: 10
Maximum value: 100
[ofs]
integer		 Starting offset of the returned results within the full result set.
Default value: 0
Maximum value: 1900
[lat]
float		 Latitude, e.g., lat=37.337 lat,lon where results should be biased.
Note: supplying a lat/lon without a radius will only bias the search results to that area.
Value: min/max: -90 to +90
Reference: Latitude, Longitude and Coordinate System Grids
[lon]
float		 Longitude, e.g.,lon=-121.89 lat,lon where results should be biased.
Note: supplying a lat/lon without a radius will only bias the search results to that area.
Value: min/max: -180 to +180
Reference: Latitude, Longitude and Coordinate System Grids
[countrySet]
string		 Comma separated string of country codes (e.g., FR,ES).

  • This will limit the search to the specified countries.
  • The choice of view may restrict which countries are available.

Values: FR,ES,etc.
[radius]
integer		 If radius and position are set, the results will be constrained to the defined area.
The radius parameter is specified in meters.
Value: A radius.
[topLeft]
string (position)		 Top left position of the bounding box.

  • This is specified as a comma separated string composed by lat,lon (e.g., 37.553,-122.453).
  • Important note: Point-Radius parameters and Bounding box parameters are mutually exclusive.
  • Point radius parameters take precedence when both are passed.

Value: A comma separated string.
[btmRight]
string (position)		 Bottom right position of the bounding box.

  • This is specified as a comma separated string composed by lat,lon (e.g., 37.553,-122.453).
  • Important note: Point-Radius parameters and Bounding box parameters are mutually exclusive.
  • Point radius parameters take precedence when both are passed.

Value: A comma separated string.
[language]
string		 Language in which search results should be returned.

  • Should be one of the TomTom supported IETF language tags, case insensitive.
  • When data in specified language is not available for a specific field, the default langauge is used.

Value: A TomTom supported IETF language tag.
[extendedPostalCodesFor]
string		 Indexes for which extended postal codes should be included in the results. Available indexes are:

  • POI = Points of Interest

The value should be "POI" or "None" to disable extended postal codes. By default extended postal codes are included.
Usage examples:

  • extendedPostalCodesFor=POI
  • extendedPostalCodesFor=None

Extended postal code is returned as an extendedPostalCode property of an address. Availability is region-dependent.
Values: POI or None
[categorySet]
string		 A comma-separated list of categories which could be used to restrict the result to Points Of Interest of specific categories. The list of categories can be discovered using POI Categories endpoint.
Value: A comma-separated list of category identifiers (in any order).

  • Item order does not matter.
  • When multiple category identifiers are provided, only POIs that belong to (at least) one of the categories from the provided list will be returned.

Usage examples:

  • categorySet=7315 (search Points Of Interest of category Restaurant)
  • categorySet=7315025,7315017 (search Points Of Interest of category either Italian or French Restaurant)
[brandSet]
string		 A comma-separated list of brand names which could be used to restrict the result to Points Of Interest of specific brands.
Value: A comma-separated list of brand names (in any order).

  • Item order does not matter.
  • When multiple brands are provided, only POIs that belong to (at least) one of the brands from the provided list will be returned.
  • Brands that contain a "," in their name should be put into quotes, for example: "A,B,C Comma".

Usage examples:

  • brandSet=Tomtom (search Points Of Interest of ¨Tomtom¨ brand)
  • brandSet=Tomtom,Foobar (search Points Of Interest of ¨Tomtom¨ brand OR ¨Foobar¨ brand)
  • brandSet=¨A,B,C Comma¨ (search Points Of Interest of ¨A,B,C Comma¨ brand)
[connectorSet]
string		 A comma-separated list of connector types which could be used to restrict the result to Points Of Interest of type Electric Vehicle Station supporting specific connector types. List of supported connector types
Value: A comma-separated list of connector types (in any order).

  • Item order does not matter.
  • When multiple connector types are provided, only POIs that support (at least) one of the connector types from the provided list will be returned.

Usage examples:

  • connectorSet=IEC62196Type2CableAttached (search Points Of Interest of type Electric Vehicle Station supporting IEC62196Type2CableAttached)
  • connectorSet=IEC62196Type2Outlet,IEC62196Type2CableAttached (search Points Of Interest of type Electric Vehicle Station supporting IEC62196Type2CableAttached or IEC62196Type2Outlet)
[view]
string		 Geopolitical View.

  • The context used to resolve the handling of disputed territories.
  • Views include Unified, along with AR, IL, IN, MA, and PK which are respectively tailored for Argentina, Israel, India, Morocco, and Pakistan.

Default values:

  • Argentina, default view: AR, available views: Unified, IL, IN, MA, PK
  • India, default view: IN, available views: -
  • Morocco, default view: MA, available views: Unified, AR, IL, IN, PK
  • Pakistan, default view: PK, available views: Unified, AR, IL, IN, MA
  • Others, default view: Unified, available views: AR, IL, IN, MA, PK
[openingHours]
string		 List of opening hours for a POI (Points of Interest).

  • nextSevenDays mode shows the opening hours for next week, starting with the current day in the local time of the POI.

Value:

  • openingHours=nextSevenDays

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Response data

Response body

For illustrative purposes the example below is neatly indented and includes all possible Response fields.

  • Actual Responses are more compact and the fields present will vary based on the result type and the data available.
  • See the following Response field documentation for more information.
When requesting JSON output the Response has the following structure:
{
  "summary": {
    "query": "pizza",
    "queryType": "NON_NEAR",
    "queryTime": 95,
    "numResults": 10,
    "offset": 0,
    "totalResults": 247458,
    "fuzzyLevel": 1,
    "geoBias": {
      "lat": 36.98844,
      "lon": -121.97483
    }
  },
  "results": []
}
Each element of the results [] array is in the following format:
{
  "type": "POI",
  "id": "US/POI/p0/9033556",
  "score": 5,
  "dist": 0,
  "info": "search:ta:840061001865142-US",
  "poi": {
    "name": "Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta",
    "phone": "+(1)-(831)-4762333",
    "url": "www.uppercrustsc.com/",
    "brands": [
      {
        "name": "Upper Crust"
      }
    ],
    "categorySet": [
      {
        "id": 7315015
      }
    ],
    "categories": [
      "pizza",
      "restaurant"
    ],
    "openingHours": {
      "mode": "NEXT_SEVEN_DAYS",
      "timeRanges": [
        {
          "startTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-05",
            "hour": 7,
            "minute": 0
          },
          "endTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-05",
            "hour": 21,
            "minute": 0
          }
        },
        {
          "startTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-06",
            "hour": 7,
            "minute": 0
          },
          "endTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-06",
            "hour": 21,
            "minute": 0
          }
        },
        {
          "startTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-07",
            "hour": 7,
            "minute": 0
          },
          "endTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-07",
            "hour": 21,
            "minute": 0
          }
        },
        {
          "startTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-08",
            "hour": 7,
            "minute": 0
          },
          "endTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-08",
            "hour": 21,
            "minute": 0
          }
        },
        {
          "startTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-09",
            "hour": 7,
            "minute": 0
          },
          "endTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-09",
            "hour": 21,
            "minute": 0
          }
        },
        {
          "startTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-10",
            "hour": 7,
            "minute": 0
          },
          "endTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-10",
            "hour": 12,
            "minute": 0
          }
        },
        {
          "startTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-10",
            "hour": 14,
            "minute": 0
          },
          "endTime": {
            "date": "2019-02-10",
            "hour": 21,
            "minute": 0
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    "classifications": [
      {
        "code": "RESTAURANT",
        "names": [
          {
            "nameLocale": "en-US",
            "name": "pizza"
          },
          {
            "nameLocale": "en-US",
            "name": "restaurant"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "address": {
    "streetNumber": "2501",
    "streetName": "Soquel Dr",
    "municipalitySubdivision": "Santa Cruz, Live Oak",
    "municipality": "Santa Cruz, Live Oak",
    "countrySecondarySubdivision": "Santa Cruz",
    "countryTertiarySubdivision": "Santa Cruz",
    "countrySubdivision": "CA",
    "postalCode": "95065",
    "extendedPostalCode": "950652023",
    "countryCode": "US",
    "country": "United States Of America",
    "countryCodeISO3": "USA",
    "freeformAddress": "2501 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065",
    "countrySubdivisionName": "California",
    "localName": "Santa Cruz"
  },
  "position": {
    "lat": 36.98844,
    "lon": -121.97483
  },
  "viewport": {
    "topLeftPoint": {
      "lat": 36.98934,
      "lon": -121.97596
    },
    "btmRightPoint": {
      "lat": 36.98754,
      "lon": -121.9737
    }
  },
  "entryPoints": [
    {
      "type": "main",
      "position": {
        "lat": 36.98817,
        "lon": -121.97487
      }
    }
  ],
  "dataSources": {
    "geometry": {
      "id": "00004e4c-3100-3c00-0000-0000685e23c7"
    }
  }
}

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Response fields

The following table describes all of the fields that can appear in a Response. Fields are listed by the Response section they belong to and in the order that they appear in the Response.

Primary fields
Field Description
summary{}
object		 Summary information about the search that was performed.
summary{} object
results[]
array		 Result list, sorted in descending order by score.
results[] array
summary{} object
Field Description
query
string		 Query as interpreted by the search engine.
queryType
string		 Response type. Can be NEARBY or NON_NEAR.
queryTime
integer		 Time spent on resolving the query.
numResults
integer		 Number of Results in the response.
offset
integer		 Starting offset of the returned Results within the full Result set.
totalResults
integer		 Total number of Results found.
fuzzyLevel
integer		 Maximum fuzzy level required to provide Results.
geoBias
comma separated string composed by lat,lon		 Position used to bias the Results:
LatLon double
Example: 37.819722,-122.478611
results[] array
Field Description
type
string		 Type of Result. One of:

  • POI
  • Street
  • Geography
  • Point Address
  • Address Range
  • Cross Street
id
string		 Non-stable id for this Result.
score
double		 Score of the Result.
A larger score means there is a probability
that a Result meeting the query criteria is higher.
dist
double		 Unit: meters. This is the distance to an object if geobias was provided.
info
string		 Information about the original data source of the Result.
entityType
string		 Optional section.
Only present if type = = Geography. One of:

  • County
  • CountrySubdivision
  • CountrySecondarySubdivision
  • CountryTertiarySubdivision
  • Municipality
  • MunicipalitySubdivision
  • Neighbourhood
  • PostalCodeArea
poi
object		 Optional section. Only present if type == POI.
poi{} object
address
object		 Structured address for the Result.
address{} object
position
object		 Position of the Result:
LatLon double
Example: 37.819722,-122.478611
viewport
object		 A viewport which can be used to display the
Result on a map.
viewport{} object
entrypoints
array		 List of entry points of the POI.
entryPoints[] array
addressRanges
object		 Address ranges on a street segment.
Available only for Results where the
Result type is equal to "Address Range".
addressRanges{} object
poi{} object
Field Description
name
string		 Name of the POI.
phone
string		 Telephone number.
brands
array		 The list of POI brands.
brands[] array
url
string		 Website URL.
categories
array
Deprecated		 The list of POI categories.
Category Codes

  • Deprecated: Use classifications instead.
  • As of May 1, 2018:
    • The Response categories field has been deprecated.
    • It will be withdrawn following a 12 month deprecation period.
    • The planned withdrawal date is May 1, 2019.
categorySet
array		 The list of the most specific POI categories.
categorySet[] array
openingHours
object		 List of opening hours for a POI (Points of Interest).
openingHours{} object
classifications
array		 The list of POI category classifications.
classifications[] array
categorySet[] array
Field Description
id
number		 Category id. Full list of available categories is available under POI Categories endpoint.
brands[] array
Field Description
name
string		 Brand name.
classifications[] array
Field Description
code
string		 Fixed top level category code. Category Code
names
array		 List of category names with locale code information.
Currently only "en-US" locale is returned.
names[] array
names[] array
Field Description
nameLocale
string		 Locale code of this category name.
name
string		 Category name in given locale.
address{} object
Field Description
streetNumber
string		 The building number on the street.
streetName
string		 The street name.
municipalitySubdivision
string		 Sub / Super City
municipality
string		 City / Town
countrySecondarySubdivision
string		 County
countryTertiarySubdivision
string		 Named Area
countrySubdivision
string		 State or Province
postalCode
string		 Postal Code / Zip Code
extendedPostalCode
string		 Extended postal code (availability dependent on region)
countryCode
string		 Country (Note: This is a two-letter code, not a country name.)
country
string		 Country name
countryCodeISO3
string		 ISO alpha-3 country code
freeformAddress
string		 An address line formatted according to formatting
rules of a Result's country of origin,or in case
of countries its full country name.
countrySubdivisionName
string		 A full name of a first level of country administrative hierarchy.

  • This field appears only in case countrySubdivision is presented in an abbreviated form.
  • Supported only for USA, Canada and Great Britain.
localName
string		 An address component which represents the name of a geographic area or locality that groups a number of addressable objects for addressing purposes, without being an administrative unit.
viewport{} object
Field Description
topLeftPoint
comma separated string composed by lat,lon		 Top left corner of the rectangle:
LatLon double
btmRightPoint
comma separated string composed by lat,lon		 Bottom right corner of the rectangle:
LatLon double
entryPoints[] array
Field Description
type
string		 Main entry point: One of:

  • main
  • minor
position
string		 Position of the entry point:
LatLon double
dataSources{} object
Field Description
geometry
object		 Information about the geometric shape of the result. Only present if type == Geography or POI.
id
string		 Pass this as geometryId to the Additional Data service to fetch geometry information for this result.
LatLon
Field Description
lat
float		 Latitude
lon
float		 Longitude
openingHours{} object
mode
string		 Mode used in the Request.
timeRanges
array		 List of time ranges for the next 7 days.
timeRanges[] array
timeRanges[] array
startTime
object		 The point in the next 7 days range when a given POI is being opened.
(or the beginning of the range if it was opened before the range)
inclusive
startTime{} object
endTime
object		 The point in the next 7 days range when a given POI is being opened.
(or the beginning of the range if it was opened before the range)
exclusive
endTime{} object
startTime{} object, endTime{} object
date
string		 Represents current day in calendar year in POI time zone.
hour
integer		 Hours are in the 24 hour format in the local time of a POI; possible values are 0 - 23.
minute
integer		 Minutes are in the local time of a POI; possible values are 0 - 59.

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HTTP Response codes

The following data table contains Response codes signifying successful and failed Requests to an API server.

Code Meaning & possible causes
200 OK: The search successfully returned zero or more results.
400 Bad Request: One or more parameters were incorrectly specified.
403 Forbidden: Possible causes include:

  • Service requires SSL
  • Not authorized
  • Rate or volume limit exceeded
  • Unknown referer
405 Method Not Allowed: The HTTP method (GET, POST, etc) is not supported for this Request.
404/596 Not Found: The HTTP Request method (GET, POST, etc) or path is incorrect.
5xx Server Error: The service was unable to process your Request. Contact support to resolve the issue.

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Response headers

The following data table contains response headers sent back from an API server.

Header Description
Access-Control-Allow-Origin Ensures that clients implementing the CORS security model are able to access the response from this service.
Value: An asterisk "*" that signifies access to the TomTom API using the Access-Control-Allow-Origin (ACAO) header in its Response indicating which origin sites are allowed.
Content-Type Indicates the format of the response, as chosen by the client.
Format: type/subtype; charset=utf-8
Values: type/subtype is one of:

  • application/json
  • text/javascript
  • text/xml

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