Getting Started with Bing Maps

Article
12/15/2022

To start developing with Bing Maps, choose the API(s) that is most appropriate for your platform and needs.

Developer APIs

The Bing Maps Platform offers a suite of controls and service APIs that you can use to add Bing Maps or geospatial services to your application.

Choose Your API

For a breakdown of the API by feature and platform, see Choose Your API on the Bing Maps Platform website.

Bing Maps Keys

All APIs require a Bing Maps Key. For information about the different types of keys, see Create a Bing Maps Key.

Licensing

If you have a licensing question or want to request a quote, contact the Bing Maps licensing team here.

Additional Resources

For developer guides, blogs and other resources, check out Bing Maps Resources.

Bing Maps APIs

API	Description
Bing Maps SDK for Android and iOS	The Bing Maps SDK for Android and iOS lets developers integrate a fully featured map control into mobile applications.
Bing Maps V8 Web Control	The Bing Maps V8 Web Control is the latest Bing Maps JavaScript API. Combine the AJAX map control with the Bing Maps REST Services and the Bing Spatial Data Services to create powerful Web sites and mobile applications with the latest imagery and location functionality. An interactive SDK for Bing Maps V8 is at https://www.bing.com/api/maps/sdk/mapcontrol/isdk.
Bing Maps in Windows UWP	Bing Maps is built into the Windows UWP developer APIs. See the Windows documentation for more information
Bing Maps REST Services	The Bing Maps REST Services uses REST URLs to perform tasks such as creating a map with pushpins, geocoding an address, retrieving imagery metadata or calculating a route.
Bing Spatial Data Services	The Bing Spatial Data Services uses REST URLs to geocode and reverse-geocode large sets of spatial data and to create and query data sources. A data source contains sets of data for a user-defined entity type that has a spatial component. For example you can create a data source for a set of stores and then query this data source to find stores near a location.
Bing Maps WPF Control	The Bing Maps WPF Control SDK lets developers integrate Bing Maps into rich Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications. Using a software + services approach, the Bing Maps WPF Control retrieves the latest Bing Maps imagery for your WPF application using Bing’s cloud-based architecture. The Bing Maps WPF Control SDK also supports Microsoft Surface touch interface for creating rich touch-enabled applications. To start using the Bing Maps WPF Control, download the Bing Maps Windows Presentation Foundation Control SDK.

Using a version of Bing Maps not listed here? Check the Discontinued Control Migration Guidelines to see if the version of Bing Maps you are using is nearing end of life, and if so, find out how to migrate to a newer version of Bing Maps.

Simple non-API Bing Maps Options

If you simply want to embed a map (static or interactive) on a web page or open the Map app in Windows 8 or Windows 10 from your Windows app, and do not require continuous control of the mapping experience, you may be interested in the following options.

Option	Description
Embed a map in your web page (static or interactive)	Option 1: Go to https://www.bing.com/maps, create the map you want, and then click Share. If you want control over basic parameters like size and imagery, click Customize and preview. This option will provide you with HTML that you can embed into your web page. Option 2: Create a Custom Map URL. You can create a URL that opens Bing Maps with customizations provided by you. In addition to normal map features, you can also display search results. You do not need a Bing Maps Key for this option. Option 3: Get a Static Map. With this option, you can create a URL that displays a static map. You can specify parameters that specify the imagery, define pushpins, display a route and control other map features. You will need a Bing Maps Key to use this option.
Open the Windows 8 or 10 Map app from your Windows app	Create a URL using the schema defined in URI Schema for maps application. You do not need a Bing Maps Key to use this schema.

Option

Description

Embed a map in your web page (static or interactive)

Option 1: Go to https://www.bing.com/maps, create the map you want, and then click Share. If you want control over basic parameters like size and imagery, click Customize and preview. This option will provide you with HTML that you can embed into your web page.

Option 2: Create a Custom Map URL. You can create a URL that opens Bing Maps with customizations provided by you. In addition to normal map features, you can also display search results. You do not need a Bing Maps Key for this option.

Option 3: Get a Static Map. With this option, you can create a URL that displays a static map. You can specify parameters that specify the imagery, define pushpins, display a route and control other map features. You will need a Bing Maps Key to use this option.

Open the Windows 8 or 10 Map app from your Windows app

Create a URL using the schema defined in URI Schema for maps application. You do not need a Bing Maps Key to use this schema.

News and Resources

To keep up to date with the latest Bing Maps news, read the Bing Dev Center Blog. For help from the Bing Maps community, use the Bing Maps Forums.