Google Maps API throws “Uncaught ReferenceError: google is not defined” only when using AJAX

87
votes

I have a page that uses the Google Maps API to display a map. When I load the page directly, the map appears. However, when I try to load the page using AJAX, I get the error: 

Uncaught ReferenceError: google is not defined

Why is this?

This is the page with the map:

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?v=3.exp&sensor=false"></script>
<script>
var directionsDisplay;
var directionsService = new google.maps.DirectionsService();
var map;
function initialize() {
  directionsDisplay = new google.maps.DirectionsRenderer();
  var chicago = new google.maps.LatLng(41.850033, -87.6500523);
  var mapOptions = { zoom:7, mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: chicago }
  map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map_canvas"), mapOptions);
  directionsDisplay.setMap(map);
}
$(document).ready(function(e) { initialize() });
</script>
<div id="map_canvas" style="height: 354px; width:713px;"></div>

And this the page with the AJAX call:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(e) {
    $('button').click(function(){
        $.ajax({
            type: 'GET', url: 'map-display',
            success: function(d) { $('#a').html(d); }
        })
    });
});
</script>
<button>Call</button>
<div id="a"></div>
</body>
</html>

Thanks for your help.

7
ajaxgoogle-maps-api-3

7 Answers

92
votes

The API can't be loaded after the document has finished loading by default, you'll need to load it asynchronous.

modify the page with the map:

<div id="map_canvas" style="height: 354px; width:713px;"></div>
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?v=3.exp&sensor=false&callback=initialize"></script>
<script>
var directionsDisplay,
    directionsService,
    map;

function initialize() {
  var directionsService = new google.maps.DirectionsService();
  directionsDisplay = new google.maps.DirectionsRenderer();
  var chicago = new google.maps.LatLng(41.850033, -87.6500523);
  var mapOptions = { zoom:7, mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: chicago }
  map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map_canvas"), mapOptions);
  directionsDisplay.setMap(map);
}

</script>

For more details take a look at: https://stackguides.com/questions/14184956/async-google-maps-api-v3-undefined-is-not-a-function/14185834#14185834

Example: http://jsfiddle.net/doktormolle/zJ5em/

38
votes

I know this answer is not directly related to this questions' issue but in some cases the "Uncaught ReferenceError: google is not defined" issue will occur if your js file is being called prior to the google maps api you're using...so DON'T DO this:

<script type ="text/javascript" src ="SomeJScriptfile.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?v=3.exp"></script>
8
votes

At a guess, you're initialising something before your initialize function:

var directionsService = new google.maps.DirectionsService();

Move that into the function, so it won't try and execute it before the page is loaded.

var directionsDisplay;
var directionsService;
var map;

function initialize() {
  directionsService = new google.maps.DirectionsService();
  directionsDisplay = new google.maps.DirectionsRenderer();
}
6
votes

Uncaught ReferenceError: google is not defined error will be gone when removed the async defer from the map API script tag.

3
votes

What worked for me after following all your workarounds was to call the API:

 <script async defer src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=you_API_KEY&callback=initMap&libraries=places"
            type="text/javascript"></script>

before my : <div id="map"></div>

I am using .ASP NET (MVC)

1
votes

I tried on different browsers and the answer for me was that is very important have in script tag this type="text/javascript"

It's very important to add to every js script for browser compatibility

<script type="text/javascript" src="ANY_FILE_OR_URL"></script>

After this the issues like Uncaught ReferenceError: google is not defined or others (that can't load any referece are gone)

-1
votes

For me

Adding this line

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false"></script>

Before this line.

<script id="microloader" type="text/javascript" src=".sencha/app/microloader/development.js"></script>

worked