zip code/location implementation

[webcornea]

hello,

 

i am building a php based site and need to have search based on zip code and locations. what is the best possible solution for doing this?

 

i want to do searches like search within XX miles of zip code xxxxx

 

please help

 

thank you

[Psycho]

You would need a database of zip codes and their approximate positions (lattitude & longitude). You can then calculate the distance between two positions. Every implementation I have seen "assumes" the position of the business is 0 miles if the start position is in the same zip code.

 

Here is one vendor that supplies such a database for $150: http://www.melissadata.com/zd.html

 

Here is the demo page: http://www.melissadata.com/Lookups/zipdistance.asp

[webcornea]

that is quite pricey, are there any others?

 

i also wanted to clarify that i only want to implement search based on location like myspace.com or ebay.com where people can search for products and users within a certain area based on zip code.

 

please help

 

thank you

[webcornea]

what do you guys think the google maps API? is it too complicated, fancy to do what i am trying?

[MmmVomit]

that is quite pricey, are there any others?

 

http://www.buyzips.com/