Im breaking up with this x and moving in with mastodon.

Osm maps address data is worthless. This dev https://github.com/pnoll1/osmand_map_creation/releases has osm maps you can download with adddress data in the maps. Also theres an app called addresstogps . Itll convert the address into gps coordinates and you can open it in any map. The only thing wrong with it however is, addresstogps uses google as a back end.

The link I posted, the dev has inserted address data into the map file for every state in the us plus some other countries. You download the obf file for each state you need. Then in android data subdirectory in your filemanager where osm puts its own map obf files you'll replace there's with these. You'll have to either use a third party file manager app or a computer will work. If your maps are on the SD card, then it'll be in the same directory but under the SD card.

I meant the developer in the link I posted. Obf files are just the file type that the maps are in. Android directory is when you go into your android file manager, there is a list of folders like android or downloads. When you choose the android folder, the next folders are data, media,and obb.

What are you having trouble understanding specifically?

The app addresstogps is a separate thing. Its an app in the play store.

So addresstogps is way easier but it requires data to work. If you're going hiking or camping and cant get cell service for example, addresstogps wouldnt work but, those map files preloaded with address data would. They don't require data. Which are the obf map files.

Why not just use an app? Thats what addresstogps does pretty much. Its very easy. But for some people its a deal breaker that it uses Google as a back end for data. The other thing is it requires data to work.

Self hosted ,or cloud?

This dev in the link gathers address data and inserts it into map obf files. You download each one you need then you put the obf file in osmands android data directory where your map files usually go. There's also an app called addresstogps that allows you to lookup an address and it converts it into gps coordinates and allows you to open it in any map app. However addresstogps uses Google as a back end. Ive found that dev in the links address lookup to be so robust, there's almost never a time when I need to use a different address lookup.