geocodable

Geocodable is a term used in the field of geographic information systems (GIS) and data management to describe information that can be reliably converted into geographic coordinates, specifically latitude and longitude. This conversion process is known as geocoding. Data that is geocodable typically includes addresses, place names, zip codes, or other location-specific identifiers that can be matched against a geocoding service or database.

For data to be geocodable, it must be sufficiently detailed and accurate. A full street address with a street number, street name, city, state, and zip code is generally considered highly geocodable. Less precise information, such as just a city name or a general region, may be geocodable to a broader area but not to a specific point. The quality of the geocoding also depends on the completeness and accuracy of the underlying reference data used by the geocoding engine.

The ability to geocode data is crucial for many applications. It allows for the visualization of data on maps, spatial analysis, location-based services, and demographic studies. Without geocodable information, it would be difficult to understand the spatial distribution of events, customers, or resources. Many software platforms and APIs offer geocoding services that take non-spatial data and return spatial coordinates, making that data geocodable.