<?php
function geocode($address){

    // url encode the address
    $address = urlencode($address);

    // google map geocode api url
    $url = "http://maps.google.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address={$address}";

    // get the json response from url
    $resp_json = file_get_contents($url);

    // decode the json response
    $resp = json_decode($resp_json, true);
    // response status will be 'OK', if able to geocode given address
    if($resp['status']=='OK'){
    	//define empty array
 		$data_arr = array();
        // get the important data
        $data_arr['latitude'] = isset($resp['results'][0]['geometry']['location']['lat']) ? $resp['results'][0]['geometry']['location']['lat'] : '';
        $data_arr['longitude'] = isset($resp['results'][0]['geometry']['location']['lng']) ? $resp['results'][0]['geometry']['location']['lng'] : '';
        $data_arr['formatted_address'] = isset($resp['results'][0]['formatted_address']) ? $resp['results'][0]['formatted_address'] : '';

        // verify if data is exist
        if(!empty($data_arr) && !empty($data_arr['latitude']) && !empty($data_arr['longitude'])){

            return $data_arr;

        }else{
            return false;
        }

    }else{
        return false;
    }
}
echo json_encode(geocode('denver'));
?>