latitudedefined

Latitudedefined is a term used in geospatial data management to denote whether a latitude component of a geographic coordinate is defined for a given record. In practice it functions as a boolean flag or as an implicit property derived from the presence of a latitude value. When latitudedefined is true, the latitude value is present and within the valid geographic range; when false, the latitude is missing, undefined, or otherwise invalid for analysis.

Common representations include an explicit boolean field named latitudedefined alongside a numeric latitude, or the absence of a latitude value treated as undefined. Some systems encode undefined latitude as a null, NaN, or sentinel value, in which case latitudedefined is effectively inferred.

Validation rules typically require latitude to lie in the range −90 to 90 degrees and to be finite. Additional checks may ensure consistency with the chosen coordinate reference system. Latitudedefined is often evaluated in conjunction with a corresponding longitude component; a coordinate is considered complete only if both latitude and longitude are defined.

In data workflows, latitudedefined supports data quality control, filtering of incomplete records, and robust error handling in APIs and GIS software. It helps prevent downstream errors in mapping, spatial joins, or projections by signaling that a coordinate should not be used.

Geometrically, latitude refers to the angle between the equatorial plane and the line perpendicular to the reference ellipsoid. Latitudedefined is a metadata-level concept rather than a spatial reference itself, but it governs how coordinates are interpreted and processed.