Geocoding

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What Does Geocoding Mean?

Geocoding is the process of converting an address into spatial data and associating the exact geographical coordinates for that address. It is used in geographical information systems to help find the coordinates of a place or address.

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Geocoding is also known as forward geocoding.

Techopedia Explains Geocoding

Geocoding is typically implemented through geocoder software that performs the task of finding geographical coordinates from a geographical information system (GIS). Typically, geocoding works by taking the address as an input and searching for it within the geographical information system (GIS).

The GIS usually contains the geographical coordinates for that particular address. Geocoding then interpolates the position of the address in formal of geographical coordinates. These coordinates include the longitude and latitude of the searched location or address.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Specialist
Margaret Rouse
Technology Specialist

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.