location

Location refers to a particular point or area where something exists or occurs. In geography and cartography, it denotes the position of a feature on the Earth’s surface or in space. Locations can be described in absolute terms, using a coordinate system such as latitude and longitude, which locate a point with a numerical pair and a specific datum (for example WGS84). Relative location describes where something is in relation to other features, such as “north of the river” or “near downtown.”

Coordinate systems include geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), projected coordinates (for example Cartesian x,y in a map projection), and other schemes like the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). Locations are often expressed as addresses or place names, but those are less precise and depend on naming conventions and jurisdictions.

Determination methods include GNSS or GPS devices that provide a precise absolute position, while geocoding converts an address to coordinates. Geographic information systems (GIS) integrate location with attributes and measurements to enable analysis and visualization.

Applications of location data span navigation, logistics, urban planning, property transactions, emergency response, and environmental monitoring. In data science, location data underpins geospatial analysis, mapping, and location-based services.

Conceptually, location is distinct from place. A location is a measurable position or area, whereas a place includes cultural, historical, and contextual meaning. Scale and context influence how location is defined, ranging from global coordinates to street-level references, and from physical position to the relevance of nearby features.