what3words Ruby wrapper

The Ruby wrapper is useful for Ruby developers who wish to seamlessly integrate the what3words Public API into their Ruby applications, without the hassle of having to manage the low level API calls themselves.

The what3words API is a fast, simple interface which allows you to convert 3 word addresses such as ///index.home.raft to latitude and longitude coordinates such as -0.203586, 51.521251 and vice versa. It features a powerful autosuggest function, which can validate and autocorrect user input and limit it to certain geographic areas (this powers the search box on our map site). It allows you to request a section of the what3words grid (which can be requested as GeoJSON for easy display on online maps), and to request the list of all languages supported by what3words. For advanced users, autosuggest can be used to post-process voice output.

All coordinates are latitude,longitude pairs in standard WGS-84 (as commonly used worldwide in GPS systems). All latitudes must be in the range of -90 to 90 (inclusive).

Installation

The library is available through RubyGems.

You can simply add this line to your application's Gemfile:

    gem 'what3words', '~> 3.0'

And then execute:

    $ bundle

Or install it yourself as:

    $ gem install what3words

Usage

Sign up for an API key at https://developer.what3words.com

See https://developer.what3words.com/public-api/docs for all parameters that can be passed to the API calls.

If not using Bundler, require it:

    require 'what3words'

Then:

    what3words = What3Words::API.new(:key => "YOURAPIKEY")

Convert to Coordinates: convert a 3 word address into GPS coordinates (WGS84)

    what3words.convert_to_coordinates 'prom.cape.pump'
    # => {:country=>"GB", :square=>{:southwest=>{:lng=>-0.195426, :lat=>51.484449}, :northeast=>{:lng=>-0.195383, :lat=>51.484476}}, :nearestPlace=>"Kensington, London", :coordinates=>{:lng=>-0.195405, :lat=>51.484463}, :words=>"prom.cape.pump", :language=>"en", :map=>"https://w3w.co/prom.cape.pump"}

API

Convert to Coordinates

Convert a 3 word address into GPS coordinates and return 3 words for the same position.

    what3words.convert_to_coordinates "prom.cape.pump"
    # => {:country=>"GB", :square=>{:southwest=>{:lng=>-0.195426, :lat=>51.484449}, :northeast=>{:lng=>-0.195383, :lat=>51.484476}}, :nearestPlace=>"Kensington, London", :coordinates=>{:lng=>-0.195405, :lat=>51.484463}, :words=>"prom.cape.pump", :language=>"en", :map=>"https://w3w.co/prom.cape.pump"}

Supported keyword params for convert_to_coordinates call:

• words A 3 word address as a string
• format Return data format type. It can be one of json (the default) or geojson

Convert to 3WA

Convert position information, latitude and longitude coordinates, into a 3 word address.

    what3words.convert_to_3wa [29.567041, 106.587875]
    # => {:country=>"CN", :square=>{:southwest=>{:lng=>106.58786, :lat=>29.567028}, :northeast=>{:lng=>106.587891, :lat=>29.567055}}, :nearestPlace=>"Chongqing", :coordinates=>{:lng=>106.587875, :lat=>29.567041}, :words=>"disclose.strain.redefined", :language=>"en", :map=>"https://w3w.co/disclose.strain.redefined"}

Convert position information to a 3 word address in a specific language

    what3words.convert_to_3wa [29.567041, 106.587875], language: 'fr'
    # => :country=>"CN", :square=>{:southwest=>{:lng=>106.58786, :lat=>29.567028}, :northeast=>{:lng=>106.587891, :lat=>29.567055}}, :nearestPlace=>"Chongqing", :coordinates=>{:lng=>106.587875, :lat=>29.567041}, :words=>"courgette.rabotons.infrason", :language=>"fr", :map=>"https://w3w.co/courgette.rabotons.infrason"}

Supported keyword params for convert_to_3wa call:

• coordinates The coordinates of the location to convert to 3 word address
• language (defaults to en) - A supported 3 word address language as an ISO 639-1 2 letter code
• format Return data format type. It can be one of json (the default) or geojson

Autosuggest

Returns a list of 3 word addresses based on user input and other parameters.

This resource provides corrections for the following types of input error:

• typing errors
• spelling errors
• misremembered words (e.g. singular vs. plural)
• words in the wrong order

The autosuggest resource determines possible corrections to the supplied 3 word address string based on the probability of the input errors listed above and returns a ranked list of suggestions. This resource can also take into consideration the geographic proximity of possible corrections to a given location to further improve the suggestions returned.

See https://developer.what3words.com/public-api/docs#autosuggest for detailed information

Gets suggestions in french for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'trop.caler.perdre', language: 'fr'
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"FR", :nearestPlace=>"Saint-Lary-Soulan, Hautes-Pyrénées", :words=>"trier.caler.perdre", :rank=>1, :language=>"fr"}, {:country=>"ET", :nearestPlace=>"Asbe Teferi, Oromiya", :words=>"trôler.caler.perdre", :rank=>2, :language=>"fr"}, {:country=>"CN", :nearestPlace=>"Ulanhot, Inner Mongolia", :words=>"froc.caler.perdre", :rank=>3, :language=>"fr"}]}

Gets suggestions for a different number of suggestions, i.e. 10 for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'disclose.strain.redefin', language: 'en', 'n-results': 10
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"SO", :nearestPlace=>"Jamaame, Lower Juba", :words=>"disclose.strain.redefine", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"ZW", :nearestPlace=>"Mutoko, Mashonaland East", :words=>"discloses.strain.redefine", :rank=>2, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"MM", :nearestPlace=>"Mogok, Mandalay", :words=>"disclose.strains.redefine", :rank=>3, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"CN", :nearestPlace=>"Chongqing", :words=>"disclose.strain.redefined", :rank=>4, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"ZM", :nearestPlace=>"Binga, Matabeleland North", :words=>"disclosing.strain.redefine", :rank=>5, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"XH", :nearestPlace=>"Leh, Ladakh", :words=>"disclose.straining.redefine", :rank=>6, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"US", :nearestPlace=>"Kamas, Utah", :words=>"disclose.strain.redefining", :rank=>7, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"GN", :nearestPlace=>"Boké", :words=>"disclose.strained.redefine", :rank=>8, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"BO", :nearestPlace=>"Pailón, Santa Cruz", :words=>"discloses.strains.redefine", :rank=>9, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"US", :nearestPlace=>"McGrath, Alaska", :words=>"discloses.strain.redefined", :rank=>10, :language=>"en"}]}

Gets suggestions when the coordinates for focus has been provided for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'filled.count.soap', focus: [51.4243877,-0.34745]
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"US", :nearestPlace=>"Homer, Alaska", :words=>"fund.with.code", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"AU", :nearestPlace=>"Kumpupintil, Western Australia", :words=>"funk.with.code", :rank=>2, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"US", :nearestPlace=>"Charleston, West Virginia", :words=>"fund.with.cove", :rank=>3, :language=>"en"}]}

Gets suggestions for a different number of focus results for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'disclose.strain.redefin', language: 'en', 'n-focus-results': 3
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"SO", :nearestPlace=>"Jamaame, Lower Juba", :words=>"disclose.strain.redefine", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"ZW", :nearestPlace=>"Mutoko, Mashonaland East", :words=>"discloses.strain.redefine", :rank=>2, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"MM", :nearestPlace=>"Mogok, Mandalay", :words=>"disclose.strains.redefine", :rank=>3, :language=>"en"}]}

Gets suggestions for a voice input type mode, i.e. generic-voice, for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'fun with code', 'input-type': 'generic-voice', language: 'en'
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"US", :nearestPlace=>"Homer, Alaska", :words=>"fund.with.code", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"AU", :nearestPlace=>"Kumpupintil, Western Australia", :words=>"funk.with.code", :rank=>2, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"US", :nearestPlace=>"Charleston, West Virginia", :words=>"fund.with.cove", :rank=>3, :language=>"en"}]}

Gets suggestions for a restricted area by clipping to country for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'disclose.strain.redefin', 'clip-to-country': 'GB,BE'
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"GB", :nearestPlace=>"Nether Stowey, Somerset", :words=>"disclose.retrain.redefined", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"BE", :nearestPlace=>"Zemst, Flanders", :words=>"disclose.strain.reckon", :rank=>2, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"GB", :nearestPlace=>"Waddington, Lincolnshire", :words=>"discloses.trains.redefined", :rank=>3, :language=>"en"}]}

Gets suggestions for a restricted area by clipping to a bounding-box for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'disclose.strain.redefin', 'clip-to-bounding-box': [51.521, -0.343, 52.6, 2.3324]
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"GB", :nearestPlace=>"Saxmundham, Suffolk", :words=>"discloses.strain.reddish", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}]}

Gets suggestions for a restricted area by clipping to a circle in km for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'disclose.strain.redefin', 'clip-to-circle': [51.521, -0.343, 142]
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"GB", :nearestPlace=>"Market Harborough, Leicestershire", :words=>"discloses.strain.reduce", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}]}

Gets suggestions for a restricted area by clipping to a polygon for this address:

    what3words.autosuggest 'disclose.strain.redefin', 'clip-to-polygon': [51.521, -0.343, 52.6, 2.3324, 54.234, 8.343, 51.521, -0.343]
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"GB", :nearestPlace=>"Saxmundham, Suffolk", :words=>"discloses.strain.reddish", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}]}

Gets suggestions for a restricted area by clipping to a polygon for this address:

    what3words.w3w.autosuggest 'disclose.strain.redefin', 'prefer-land': false, 'n-results': 10
    # => {:suggestions=>[{:country=>"SO", :nearestPlace=>"Jamaame, Lower Juba", :words=>"disclose.strain.redefine", :rank=>1, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"ZW", :nearestPlace=>"Mutoko, Mashonaland East", :words=>"discloses.strain.redefine", :rank=>2, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"MM", :nearestPlace=>"Mogok, Mandalay", :words=>"disclose.strains.redefine", :rank=>3, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"CN", :nearestPlace=>"Chongqing", :words=>"disclose.strain.redefined", :rank=>4, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"ZM", :nearestPlace=>"Binga, Matabeleland North", :words=>"disclosing.strain.redefine", :rank=>5, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"XH", :nearestPlace=>"Leh, Ladakh", :words=>"disclose.straining.redefine", :rank=>6, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"US", :nearestPlace=>"Kamas, Utah", :words=>"disclose.strain.redefining", :rank=>7, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"GN", :nearestPlace=>"Boké", :words=>"disclose.strained.redefine", :rank=>8, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"BO", :nearestPlace=>"Pailón, Santa Cruz", :words=>"discloses.strains.redefine", :rank=>9, :language=>"en"}, {:country=>"US", :nearestPlace=>"McGrath, Alaska", :words=>"discloses.strain.redefined", :rank=>10, :language=>"en"}]}

Supported keyword params for autosuggest call:

• input The full or partial 3 word address to obtain suggestions for. At minimum this must be the first two complete words plus at least one character from the third word.
• language A supported 3 word address language as an ISO 639-1 2 letter code. This setting is on by default. Use false to disable this setting and receive more suggestions in the sea.
• n_results The number of AutoSuggest results to return. A maximum of 100 results can be specified, if a number greater than this is requested, this will be truncated to the maximum. The default is 3.
• focus A location, specified as a latitude,longitude used to refine the results. If specified, the results will be weighted to give preference to those near the specified location in addition to considering similarity to the suggest string. If omitted the default behaviour is to weight results for similarity to the suggest string only.
• n_focus_results Specifies the number of results (must be <= n_results) within the results set which will have a focus. Defaults to n_results. This allows you to run autosuggest with a mix of focussed and unfocussed results, to give you a "blend" of the two.
• clip-to-country Restricts autosuggest to only return results inside the countries specified by comma-separated list of uppercase ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes (for example, to restrict to Belgium and the UK, use clip_to_country="GB,BE").
• clip-to-bounding-box Restrict autosuggest results to a bounding box, specified by coordinates.
• clip-to-circle Restrict autosuggest results to a circle, specified by the center of the circle, latitude and longitude, and a distance in kilometres which represents the radius. For convenience, longitude is allowed to wrap around 180 degrees. For example 181 is equivalent to -179.
• clip-to-polygon Restrict autosuggest results to a polygon, specified by a list of coordinates. The polygon should be closed, i.e. the first element should be repeated as the last element; also the list should contain at least 4 entries. The API is currently limited to accepting up to 25 pairs.
• input-type For power users, used to specify voice input mode. Can be text (default), vocon-hybrid, nmdp-asr or generic-voice.
• prefer-land Makes autosuggest prefer results on land to those in the sea.

Grid

Returns a section of the 3m x 3m what3words grid for a given area.

See https://developer.what3words.com/public-api/docs#grid-section for detailed information.

Gets grid for these bounding box northeast 52.208867,0.117540,52.207988,0.116126.

    what3words.grid_section '52.208867,0.117540,52.207988,0.116126'
    # => {:lines=>[{:start=>{:lng=>0.116126, :lat=>52.20801}, :end=>{:lng=>0.11754, :lat=>52.20801}}, {:start=>{:lng=>0.116126, :lat=>52.208037}, :end=>{:lng=>0.11754, :lat=>52.208037}}, {:start=>{:lng=>0.116126, :lat=>52.208064}, :end=>{:lng=>0.11754, :lat=>52.208064}}, ___...___ ]}

Supported keyword params for grid_section call:

• bounding-box The bounding box is specified by the northeast and southwest corner coordinates, for which the grid should be returned
• format Return data format type. It can be one of json (the default) or geojson

Get Languages

Retrieve a list of available 3 word languages.

    what3words.available_languages
    # => {:languages=>[{:nativeName=>"Deutsch", :code=>"de", :name=>"German"}, {:nativeName=>"हिन्दी", :code=>"hi", :name=>"Hindi"}, {:nativeName=>"Português", :code=>"pt", :name=>"Portuguese"}, {:nativeName=>"Magyar", :code=>"hu", :name=>"Hungarian"}, {:nativeName=>"Українська", :code=>"uk", :name=>"Ukrainian"}, {:nativeName=>"Bahasa Indonesia", :code=>"id", :name=>"Bahasa Indonesia"}, {:nativeName=>"اردو", :code=>"ur", :name=>"Urdu"}, ___...___]}

See https://developer.what3words.com/public-api/docs#available-languages for the original API call documentation.

Testing

• Prerequisite : we are using bundler $ gem install bundler

• W3W-API-KEY: For safe storage of your API key on your computer, you can define that API key using your system’s environment variables.

$ export W3W_API_KEY=<Secret API Key>

• on your cloned folder

1. $ cd w3w-ruby-wrapper
2. $ bundle update
3. $ rake rubocop spec

To run the tests, type on your terminal:

$ bundle exec rspec

Issues

Find a bug or want to request a new feature? Please let us know by submitting an issue.

Contributing

Anyone and everyone is welcome to contribute.

1. Fork it (http://github.com/what3words/w3w-ruby-wrapper and click "Fork")
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b my-new-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -am 'Add some feature')
4. Don't forget to update README and bump version using semver
5. Push to the branch (git push origin my-new-feature)
6. Create new Pull Request

Revision History

• v3.0.0 12/05/22 - Update endpoints and tests to API v3, added HTTP headers
• v2.2.0 03/01/18 - Enforce Ruby 2.4 Support - Thanks to PR from Dimitrios Zorbas @Zorbash
• v2.1.1 22/05/17 - Update gemspec to use rubocop 0.48.1, and fixes spec accordingly
• v2.1.0 28/03/17 - Added multilingual version of autosuggest and standardblend
• v2.0.4 27/03/17 - Updated README with languages method result updated from live result
• v2.0.3 24/10/16 - Fixed display in assemble_common_request_params
• v2.0.2 10/06/16 - Added travis-ci builds
• v2.0.0 10/06/16 - Updated wrapper to use what3words API v2

Licensing

The MIT License (MIT)

A copy of the license is available in the repository's license file.