How can I create an OmniSearch using OSM data?

Question

I want to create a "search-for-anything" using the OSM data. I know the name column is the most relevant attribute, but it come empty sometimes.

What tags I must include in my query to return the maximum data possible of a search?

Example: When the user search for Peter I need to return roads, places, hospitals, etc... with this parameter in the name.

I'm using Java to query the planet_osm_* tables in a PostGIS database. I'm planning to create an Ajax autocomplete method in the HTML users interface to query the database for any word the user types.

Answer 1

Some things just don't have a name. For example some minor parks, many forests, parking areas, fountains, post boxes, elevators, waste baskets and so on. Do you want to search for all these things? Then the only option for you is to look at all the corresponding tags. See Map Features for the most important ones. The keys operator and brand are also very important depending on your use-cases.