Articles about GPS, coordinates, and location technology
What geocoding and reverse geocoding actually do, how match quality levels work (rooftop vs interpolated), why results differ between providers, and what accuracy you can expect.
GPS is just one of four global satellite navigation systems. Compare GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou — constellations, accuracy, coverage strengths — and see why your phone uses all of them at once.
A clear explanation of how GPS determines your position: the satellite constellation, radio signals traveling at light speed, atomic clocks, relativity corrections, and why you need at least four satellites.
MGRS and UTM share the same math but read differently. Learn how MGRS compresses UTM coordinates into grid references like 4QFJ 12345 67890, and when each system is the right choice.
GPS altitude is routinely 2–3× worse than horizontal accuracy, and the number your device shows may differ from sea-level elevation by tens of meters. Here's the geometry and the geoid explained.
Learn how to calculate the distance between two GPS coordinates using the haversine formula, with a worked example, the initial bearing, and why real routes are always longer.
Step-by-step guide to getting latitude and longitude from Google Maps on desktop and mobile, understanding the format, and converting coordinates to DMS or UTM.
Understand the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinate system: how its 60 zones work, what easting and northing mean, and when to use UTM instead of latitude/longitude.
Learn how to open GPS coordinates in Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Kakao Maps, and how reverse geocoding turns latitude and longitude into a readable street address.
Understand the relationship between IP addresses and physical locations. Learn what information your IP can and cannot reveal, and discover the truth behind common misconceptions.
Learn about the accuracy levels of IP geolocation, from country-level precision to city-level estimates, and understand the factors that affect location detection.
Discover how IP geolocation works, what information it can reveal about your location, and how businesses use this technology for personalization and security.
How accurate is GPS? Typically about 5 meters on smartphones — down to centimeters with RTK. See accuracy by device type and the factors that degrade it, with practical tips.
Everything you need to know about latitude and longitude - from basic concepts to advanced calculations. Learn how these coordinates define every location on Earth with precision.
The three GPS coordinate formats at a glance: DD (48.8584), DMS (48°51'30.1"N), and DDM (48°51.502'N) — what each abbreviation means, when to use which, and how to convert.
Learn the fundamentals of GPS coordinates, how they work, and how they're used in everyday navigation. Discover the technology that powers location services worldwide.