Google provides web developers with a number of APIs [1] (Application Programming Interfaces) for building geospatial applications. The most commonly used API (the JavaScript-based Maps API) is the one that we'll be learning about during this course. However, you should make a mental note of the other APIs that are available: two for developing native apps on mobile devices (one for Android phones and the other for iOS), and a set of location-based web services (e.g., the Elevation and Time Zone APIs).
The Google Maps JavaScript API home page [2] [https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/] [3] is composed of 5 tabs:
Now that we've seen where Google Maps developers go for information about the API, let's begin developing our own maps.