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Apple Maps Java is a lightweight, unofficial Java SDK for the Apple Maps Server API. It gives JVM applications typed access to Apple’s geocoding, place search, autocomplete, routing, and ETA endpoints — no UI framework required. The SDK automatically exchanges your long-lived authorization token (JWT) for short-lived access tokens and refreshes them as needed, so you don’t have to manage token rotation yourself.
This SDK targets the Apple Maps Server API — a REST HTTP API for backend services. It does not support Android (which lacks java.net.http.HttpClient), Kotlin Multiplatform, or iOS. See the compatibility notes below.

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Apple Maps ecosystem

Apple provides three distinct Maps integrations. Apple Maps Java wraps the Server API (#1).
ServiceTypeBest for
Apple Maps Server APIREST HTTP APIBackend services (Java, Kotlin, Python, etc.) that need geocoding, search, directions, or ETA data without a UI.
MapKitNative UI frameworkiOS and macOS apps that need interactive maps.
MapKit JSJavaScript UI libraryWeb apps that need interactive maps in the browser.

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Key features

Geocoding & reverse geocoding

Convert street addresses to coordinates and structured address data, or convert coordinates back to addresses.

Place search & autocomplete

Search for businesses and points of interest. Use autocomplete for typeahead UX, then resolve results in parallel with resolveCompletionUrls.

Directions & ETA

Request turn-by-turn routes between coordinates, or get travel time estimates for one origin and multiple destinations.

Place lookups

Look up a place by its Apple Maps place identifier, batch-lookup multiple places, or resolve alternate IDs.

Automatic token management

Provide your long-lived JWT once. The SDK exchanges it for short-lived access tokens and refreshes them transparently.

Zero framework dependencies

Uses only java.net.http.HttpClient and Jackson. Works with Spring Boot, Quarkus, plain Java, or any JVM framework.

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Supported API operations

The SDK provides typed wrappers for the following Apple Maps Server API operations:
  • Geocoding: geocode, reverseGeocode
  • Search: search
  • Autocomplete: autocomplete, resolveCompletionUrl, resolveCompletionUrls
  • Directions & ETA: directions, etas
  • Places: lookupPlace, lookupPlaces, lookupAlternateIds

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Compatibility

RuntimeSupported
Java 17+ (server / JVM)Yes — Spring Boot, Quarkus, plain Java, and any compatible JDK
Kotlin/JVMYes — works like any other Maven/Gradle dependency
AndroidNo — Android does not include java.net.http.HttpClient
Kotlin Multiplatform / iOSNo — Kotlin/Native cannot consume JVM bytecode artifacts
The library targets Java 17 classfiles, so consuming projects must run on JDK 17 or later (including JDK 21, 25, etc.).

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Requirements

  • Java 17 or later
  • An Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year) — required to create a Maps Identifier and private key
  • A long-lived Apple Maps authorization token (JWT) — see Authorization

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Next step

Quickstart

Get your first geocode result in under 5 minutes.