Through Google’s Geocoding API, you can convert an address into geographical coordinates and thus insert a marker on the Google map. Your PC and smartphone tell you where you are. An internet site can use this for location-based information. Address4 will explain how this geolocation works.

More and more websites offer location-based information and services

An increasing number of websites offer location-based information and services: Getting in touch with friends nearby, the programme of the cinema around the corner, the current traffic situation, the nearest sights, advertisements and private ads from the region are just a few examples.

However, this only works if the services can locate the user. This is basically no problem with computers, tablet PCs and internet mobile phones: because these devices reveal more or less exactly where you are through their IP address on the internet or additionally with their built-in GPS module. In this way, your smartphone can not only show you the right way with the help of navigation software, but also inform you about shops and other important places in your immediate vicinity via software or information usually retrieved via the Internet.

The IP addresses are not always precise

No matter whether it is a computer or a smartphone: every device that accesses the internet receives a unique combination of numbers as an address from the access provider. As a rule, however, only the city or conurbation can be correctly identified by this number. A more precise determination of location at street level, on the other hand, is not possible. Anyone accessing the internet via the network of a company with several locations may be assigned to the wrong city. This also includes the networks of the large supra-regional internet access providers.

The IP address alone can be used to determine approximately where you are. To do this, go to the Geolocation page. The result can be found in the first section under “Localisation via the IP address”.The location determination via the IP address is carried out with the help of a database in which numerous IP addresses and the corresponding locations are stored.

Alternatively, you can explore web scraping through various websites to find IP addresses that meet your specific requirements. For instance, if you’re looking for services that offer advertisements in a particular area, you might consider webscrape with javascript instead of using an API. This approach can be useful because some websites restrict access by requiring authentication, and using an API for this task might be time-consuming. Web scraping can serve as a workaround to bypass such restrictions and even acquire the necessary authentication.

GPS is more precise

The GPS localisation function, which has proven itself in navigation devices, comes into play if you want to determine the location more reliably and more precisely. Localisation functions are therefore particularly widespread in connection with mobile phone apps, as most smartphones today have a GPS receiver as standard. With the help of this receiver, the device can usually report the owner’s current location with an accuracy of a few metres.

In most cases, GPS positioning is supported by a position sensor and an acceleration sensor. This is referred to as assisted GPS. In this way, smartphones can report their current location simply but usually accurately, even if no GPS signal can be received at the moment because the mobile phone owner is not in the field of vision of the positioning satellites.

In most current browsers, functions are integrated that allow a website to determine its location via the available sensors (geolocation API). If a website wants to request this information, you must first agree to it. To determine your location using this method, go to the Geolocation page. Click on “Start location determination” and confirm the security request of your browser. On a PC without a GPS module, the result is usually about the same as the query via the IP address. In contrast, with a smartphone the position can be determined relatively precisely.