What is the US Address Verification API?

 The us address verification api is an application programming interface (API) that automatically validates postal information. It normalizes addresses, matching them to the standard format established by the United States Postal Service and other international postal authorities. It efficiently integrates with websites, databases and CRM software.

It corrects misspelled city or street names, adds missing elements, like a state or ZIP code, and standardized the formatting of the components in an address to match postal standards. It also checks that the address is a real-world location, and identifies whether it is a business or residential address. It is also CASS certified by the United States Postal Service, which means that it is accurate to the highest level of coding accuracy for addresses within the country.

In addition to determining an address’s integrity, the API provides valuable metadata about it. These include individual address components with their accuracy confirmation levels, as well as the plus code and geocode for the location. It can even differentiate a commercial from a residential address, an important distinction for businesses that want to limit the times when they are required to deliver packages to customers.

While the USPS has its own database of valid addresses, there are a number of third-party companies that develop best-in-class software and services for verifying and validating address data. They offer a variety of different products that range from simple and easy-to-use to more robust and advanced features. Some of these providers are Melissa, Loqate and Smarty, who each provide a wide array of additional supplemental address data.