Would you like to locate any point in the world with just two numbers? Or maybe share your exact location with friends, family, or colleagues with complete accuracy, even beyond what the GPS signal or traditional addressing systems allow. In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover how to search by coordinates in Google Maps: from what geographic coordinates are to their formats, how to enter them from any device, additional methods for obtaining them, and practical tips for getting the most out of this powerful location tool.
What are geographic coordinates and how are they expressed?
The Geographical coordinates They allow you to locate any point on the Earth's surface using two numerical values: latitude y lengthThey are based on imaginary lines drawn on the Earth:
- La latitude indicates the angular distance with respect to the Ecuador (0°), varying from 0° to 90° both north (N) as to the south (S). For example: Madrid is at 40°25'N.
- La length indicates the angular distance from the Greenwich Meridian (0°), varying from 0° to 180° both to the east (E) as to the west (W). Example: the longitude of Madrid is 3°42'W.
Both values ​​together unambiguously identify a global point, eliminating ambiguity in areas without a postal address or in natural environments.
Usefulness and advantages of coordinates in Google Maps
Search by coordinates on Google Maps opens up possibilities that go far beyond conventional directions. Some scenarios where this functionality is essential:
- Places without a clear postal address: locations in rural areas, natural parks, beaches, mountains or unmarked spaces.
- Outdoor activities: hiking, cycling, orienteering, geocaching, exploring and mapping where precise location is critical.
- Professionals: architects, surveyors, engineers, field technicians or scientific researchers who require absolute precision.
- Emergencies and rescue: send or receive the exact position can save lifes in critical situations.
- Share specific locations: events, camps, meeting points or private properties that are difficult to locate.
- Official documents and records: Many procedures require the inclusion of exact geographic coordinates.
- Scientific and environmental explorations: tracking migratory routes, sampling and environmental monitoring.
- Games and challenges: activities such as geocaching, rallies or location-based competitions.
Google Maps allows both enter coordinates to locate a point such as get the coordinates from any location you choose on the map. Below, you'll learn how to do this step-by-step from any device and in the various formats available.
Main coordinate formats: how they are written and interpreted
There are several systems for expressing geographic coordinates. The most common ones used in Google Maps and GPS devices are:
- Decimal degrees (DD): both values ​​(latitude and longitude) in decimal numbers, separated by commas. Example: 41.40338, 2.17403
- Degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS): includes degrees, minutes, and seconds, followed by the address letter. Example: 40°25'00.8″N 3°42'13.9″W
- Degrees and decimal minutes (DMM): degrees and minutes in decimal. Example: 40 25.013, 3 42.232
- UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator): a cartographic system used in engineering and science, less common for general searches.
Google Maps is able to interpret DD, DMS, and DMM formats natively. The correct order is always latitude Longitude, and the separation must be done by a comma.
How to search for a location by coordinates on Google Maps from your computer
- Open Google Maps in your usual web browser.
- In the search box, write the coordinates in the appropriate format (DD, DMS, or DMM), separated by commas. Example: 41.40338, 2.17403
- Balance Enter or click the magnifying glass. The map will take you directly to the point indicated by those coordinates, adding a marker to it.
- To get the coordinates of a place On the map: right-click on the desired point and select the option “What’s here?”The coordinates will appear at the bottom of the map (in the search box), and you can easily copy and share them.
Google Maps allows you to copy and share coordinates directly, making it easy to transmit exact locations via email, instant messaging, and other applications.
How to search by coordinates on Google Maps from mobile (Android, iPhone, and iPad)
- Open the Google Maps app on your device.
- Tap the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top.
- Enter the coordinates following one of the supported formats: DD (41.40338, 2.17403), DMS (41°24'12.2″N 2°10'26.5″E) or DMM (41 24.2028, 2 10.4418).
- Press on Search o IrThe map will immediately show the exact spot with a red marker.
- To get the coordinates of a specific location: Tap and hold the desired location on the map. A marker will appear, with the coordinates displayed at the top or bottom, ready to copy and share.
- On iPhone and iPad, the process is identical: just open the app, enter the coordinates, and press search.
On all mobile devices you can share the coordinates with one touch, making it ideal for event planning in poorly marked areas, route exploration, or collaborative field activities.
How to convert between different coordinate formats
You may have the coordinates in a different format than you need, or a service may ask you for a specific type. You can convert between DD, DMS, DMM and UTM easily using free tools:
- online calculators: Platforms like latlong.net convert between formats and display the result in seconds.
- Mobile apps: There are apps for both Android and iOS dedicated to coordinate conversion. For example, the app GPS Coordinates.
- Spreadsheets: You can create custom functions in Google Sheets or Excel to transform coordinates if you work with large volumes of data.
This process is essential for technical work, sharing locations between different systems, and ensuring interoperability between GPS devices, mapping applications, and geographic platforms.
How to get and share exact coordinates on Google Maps
In addition to searching for places using coordinates, Google Maps allows you to get the coordinates from any point easily:
- On computer: Right-click on the location, select “What’s here?” and copy the values ​​that appear in the box below.
- In Android or iOS: Tap and hold the location. A red marker will appear, and you'll see the coordinates at the top. Tap to copy and share.
You can also quickly send these coordinates via email, messaging apps, or integrate them into documents, forms, and websites, allowing others to access the exact point from their own device.
Plus Codes and Custom Links: Alternatives for Sharing Locations
In addition to traditional coordinates, Google Maps incorporates Plus codes: a simple and universal way to share specific locations. These codes, made up of letters and numbers, function as digital addresses and are especially useful in areas without formal addresses.
- Get a Plus Code: Tap anywhere on the map, open the information, and you'll see the code. You can share it, and the recipient will simply enter it into Google Maps to navigate directly to the location.
- Custom links: You can also generate direct links to exact locations on Google Maps (using the coordinates in the URL) to easily send to anyone.
These options increase accessibility, reduce the margin of error, and make localization even more efficient and faster.
Practical tips for entering and searching for coordinates in Google Maps
- Always enter the latitude first and the longitude after., separated by a comma. Example: 40.416775,-3.703790
- Do not use unnecessary letters or symbols: only degrees, minutes, seconds and the letters N/S/E/W in the formats that require it are sufficient.
- Avoid formatting errors: Google Maps can distinguish between periods and commas but uses periods to indicate decimals.
- Check the format If the system does not recognize the coordinates: DD, DMS and DMM are accepted on the platform.
- Always copy the complete coordinates to avoid confusion and localization errors.
These tips ensure successful searches and minimize the possibility of errors when entering or sharing locations.
Advanced planning and extra utilities in Google Maps using coordinates
In addition to location, coordinates unlock multiple advanced features and utilities in Google Maps:
- Plan trips and routes: Get precise directions to and from exact coordinates, avoiding navigation errors.
- Explore maps in different modes: satellite, relief, street view and thematic layers to better analyze the desired location.
- View Street View: Explore specific locations on the street level based on coordinates.
- Save key points in custom lists: Organize your favorite coordinates so you always have them at hand.
- Create custom maps: Add markers, routes, and notes to My Maps using specific coordinates.
- Integrate your locations with GPS devices or third-party apps: Export/import lists of coordinates for specialized activities.
- Manage remote or temporary locations: Ideal for expeditions, technical work, temporary events or installations without a postal address.
This makes Google Maps a platform not only for navigation, but also for truly advanced management of geographic information.
Additional sites and tips to customize your coordinate searches
Beyond Google Maps, there are complementary services and resources for working with GPS coordinates:
- gps-coordinates.com: Allows you to save points of interest to a personal account, obtain your real-time location (with prior privacy consent), and create custom links to share on Google Maps.
- mapsdirections.info: Drag the marker over the map to get exact latitude, longitude, and altitude, and even share the location via an automatically generated link.
- CalcGPS and similar apps: convert between formats and allow you to calculate distances between points given their coordinates.
