How to Search Individual Pixels or Cities in Wplace live

How to Search Pixels or Cities

Locating one specific spot on a massive map is challenging. Scrolling around takes forever. A search function solves that problem. You enter a city name or precise coordinates. The map instantly jumps there. That simple.

You can utilize different geocoding services to search for particular locations on the map.

Here's the objective: one input field that recognizes two types of queries:

• City/location names (such as "Berlin" or "New York")
• Exact coordinates (coordinates or a map "pixel" at a specific zoom level)

When users mention "pixel," they typically mean the smallest visible square at the current zoom level. On web maps, this usually refers to a tile at zoom Z with indices X and Y. Therefore, we support both "casual" and "advanced user" input in one location.

Why this is important

• Accuracy: Navigate to the exact location you need.
• Efficiency: Stop panning around for ages.
• Shareable: Generate a clean URL with latitude, longitude, and zoom.
• User-friendly: Functions well on mobile devices and touch screens.

What "pixel search" means in this context

• For regular users, "pixel" represents the smallest square you can click at your current zoom level.
• Technically speaking, that corresponds to a tile with coordinates Z/X/Y.
• We allow you to enter either a city name, coordinate pair, or tile reference.
• The map centers on that target location. The zoom adjusts automatically when needed.

Single input, straightforward rules

Utilize one search field. It accepts three basic input types:

1. City/location: "Osaka", "New York", "São Paulo"
2. Coordinates: "40.7128, -74.0060"
3. Tile reference: "13/2411/3081" or "z=13 x=2411 y=3081"

Here's the process:

• If you enter a place name, we utilize a geocoding service to obtain lat/lng coordinates.
• If you enter numbers like "lat, lng," we bypass geocoding and navigate directly there.
• If you enter a tile reference, we convert Z/X/Y to a lat/lng center point and move the map accordingly.

Examples

• "Berlin" → centers on Berlin at a sensible zoom (for example, 12–13).
• "37.7749, -122.4194" → centers on San Francisco at your chosen zoom.
• "13/2411/3081" → centers on the middle of that tile at zoom 13.

Tip: Add a zoom if you like. For example, "Berlin zoom 14" or "37.7749, -122.4194 zoom 16". Plain English is fine. We look for the word "zoom" and a number 1–19.

Results and suggestions

• As you type, we show a short list of places.
• Click one to center the map and set the link.
• We keep the list small and useful. No clutter.

The link you can share

• After the map updates, we set the link with lat, lng, and zoom.
• The page URL stores your query as q and your zoom as zoom.
• If someone opens that link, the page auto-runs the search and shows the same view.
• This makes it easy to coordinate with others.

Performance and limits

• We debounce input, so we don't send a request on every keystroke.
• We respect geocoding rate limits and attribution rules.
• If the service is busy or returns nothing, we show a clear message and do nothing else.
• We keep most logic on the client. It is fast and simple.

Language and clarity

• The UI follows your chosen language.
• Labels, errors, and the placeholder text are short and plain.
• No jargon in the default view. Power details are available when needed.

Error messages you might see

• "No results found. Try a city, coordinates like 'lat, lng', or a tile 'z/x/y'."
• "Please enter numbers for coordinates."
• "Zoom must be between 1 and 19."

Short and honest. No drama.

Privacy

• We do not store your queries on a server.
• Your language choice is saved locally on your device.
• We show clear attribution for data sources.

What we won't do

• We won't guess if your input is ambiguous and returns many different places. We will show options. You pick.
• We won't show long, noisy lists. Top results only.

What comes next

• Quick keyboard flows: Enter to search, arrow keys to pick, Enter to jump.
• Smarter parsing: "city zoom N" patterns, more tolerant commas and spaces.
• Copy button for the shareable link.

That's it. One search box. Cities for most people. Coordinates for anyone who has them. Tiles for the folks who think in Z/X/Y. Fast, precise, shareable.

• Type what you know.
• Pick your result.
• Jump to the exact spot.

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