var g = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var a = $("#myAddress").text();
a = a.replace( new RegExp( "\\n", "g" ), ' ' );
g.geocode( {address: a}, function(results,status) {
	if (s ==  google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
		//do some cool mapping stuff
	} else {
		//or fail gracefully in the effort
	}
});

First off, we’ll just assume you’ve already added the proper script includes for the jQuery library and the Google Maps API. If you don’t know how, refer to the individual documentation for each for instructions.

The above code first creates a new instance of the Google Maps Geocoder. Then we use jQuery to retrieve just the text inside an address.We then apply a regular expression to strip out any remaining line feeds, and send off the modified address text to Google using the geocoder object we created. We now have a geocoded lat and long for our address, which we can do all sorts of cool things with. Bazinga!

You don’t need to use jQuery to do grab the address text. You can pick it out using some straightforward DOM manipulation, but jQuery makes it so darned easy. If you’re already using the jQuery library for your project, go the route illustrated above. If you’re not, I don’t think it’s a good return on investment to include the jQuery library just for that. Write a little more code and use native functionality.

Update August 25, 2010: My co-worker Josh and I have just discovered that Palm Pre does not support the W3C geolocation API.  Apparently it uses either a proprietary API for its geolocation or doesn’t expose it’s geolocation data to the browswer. C’mon Palm!

Update August 26, 2010: Much to my surprise, the app has been officially accepted for the 10K Challenge. I thought there may be an issue with it being a mobile app or that technically it provides absolutely zero data if you’re using IE9 preview, but it would appear that my fervent pleas in my readme did not fall on deaf ears. So head on over and throw a few stars my way.