json_decode returning random numbers

Question

I'm trying to print the distance in km between two ZIP codes, using this Zip Code API.

My code:

$settings = json_decode(file_get_contents('https://www.zipcodeapi.com/rest/rDJ7VmDHWP7NVwCXRbznkauB5DddKBQbeAjaWXSSM0FIxiFoueMPohquUDIFfzQt/distance.json/45410/45412/km'), true);
print_r($settings['distance']);

When I visit the actual link, it returns the expected result of 3.635 km. However, the code actually prints out seemingly random numbers, such as 17.04, 90.79, and 46.33 (my last 3 attempts).

I am running this on Cloud9, I have tried isolating it on a new page.

Am I I using json_decode wrong or does this seem like an issue with the API?

I have run it on a new page in Cloud9, because I do not have a web server set up to execute the PHP code. Here is the preview link — vincebel
– vincebel, Commented Aug 23, 2017 at 17:34
I ran it and got the expected result, so then changed the zip codes to ones I know, and the results were way off. This API is not accurate for determining distance between two zips. It's probably not your code, it's the API causing problems. — Brian Gottier
– Brian Gottier, Commented Aug 23, 2017 at 17:37
@JakeGould, I added a preview link when the code is isolated in my above comment, which only contains the code in my question plus <br><b>test</b>. Visiting the actual site gives you correct info, but I just discovered that getting requests from the API without registering on their site will generate random numbers. Quite silly, but once I registered it worked with my new key. — vincebel
– vincebel, Commented Aug 23, 2017 at 17:53

vincebel · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-23 18:53:21Z

2

It appears that the API I was using requires you to register an API key in order to use it properly, or else it will generate random values. I registered and it only allows up to 50 requests per hour with the free key, but it worked once I used the key from registering.

For those that are looking for an API with a higher request/day limit, Google's API works well also.

edited Aug 23, 2017 at 18:53

answered Aug 23, 2017 at 17:43

vincebel

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