Searching by zip/postal code

[jgoddard]

I have a client who wants to be able to search by zip/postal code, and find businesses closest to the searchers postal code... how is this done? Do you need a large database of postal codes? or is it some sort of service needed to be subscribed to...

[rightinpoint.com]

hm...
teoretically it can be done if you will have database of the zip locations with geographical location info. In other case use special services. (I have seen them - not sure where)
If I will find something I will post here.

[vinyl-junkie]

You can build your own database of postal codes and locations, or there are products you can buy with this information. I'm assuming you want Canadian postal code data, which I know nothing about, but I can tell you that the US Postal Service has postal code database information you can buy. Whether or not you'd want to do that vs. building your own database would likely depend on how often that information changes and how critical it would be for your database to be up to the minute accurate.

Hope this helps.

[mlemos]

I have a client who wants to be able to search by zip/postal code, and find businesses closest to the searchers postal code... how is this done? Do you need a large database of postal codes? or is it some sort of service needed to be subscribed to...

You may want to take a look at these two classes that offer solutions to search in zip code database for the nearest locations as you need:

php Zip Locator

Zip Codes Range

[jgoddard]

thanks,
that gives me something to start with for the client.

[rightinpoint.com]

wow.
they are cool. mlemos, thanks

Also at the readme there are link to the complete database, so I think iit will suite anybody