GPS
Definition
Global Positioning System - technology that uses satellites to determine your exact location on Earth, enabling navigation and mapping services.
Use Cases
- Uber: Real-time rider and driver location for matching, pickup navigation, and trip tracking. — The Uber mobile apps use the phone’s GPS to capture location coordinates and send them to backend services. The system continuously updates positions to calculate ETAs, route guidance, and to show live movement on the map. (Enables accurate pickups, real-time ETAs, and end-to-end trip visibility, which are core to the ride-hailing experience.)
- DoorDash: Delivery tracking and dispatch optimization for couriers and customers. — Courier apps use smartphone GPS to report location during active deliveries. Backend systems use these updates to estimate arrival times, provide customer tracking views, and support dispatch decisions. (Improves delivery transparency and helps reduce missed handoffs by providing more accurate ETAs and live tracking.)
- Strava: Recording outdoor activities (runs, rides) with route maps, distance, and pace. — The mobile app uses GPS to sample location over time, then computes distance, speed/pace, elevation estimates (often combined with other data sources), and renders the route on a map for analysis and sharing. (Provides detailed activity analytics and route visualization, supporting user engagement and training insights.)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between GPS and GNSS?
- GPS is one specific satellite navigation system operated by the United States. GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is a general term that includes GPS plus other systems like Europe’s Galileo, Russia’s GLONASS, and China’s BeiDou. Many phones use multiple GNSS systems together for better accuracy and reliability.
- When should I use GPS?
- Use GPS when you need outdoor location, navigation, or tracking—such as turn-by-turn directions, delivery/vehicle tracking, geofencing (triggering actions when entering/leaving an area), or logging routes for fitness. For indoor positioning, GPS is often unreliable, so consider Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth beacons, or other indoor location methods.
- How much does GPS cost?
- Using GPS signals is generally free for end users—there’s no per-use fee to receive satellite signals. Costs usually come from the device (phone, tracker), battery usage, and the data/networking needed to send location to an app or cloud service. If you use mapping, routing, or geocoding APIs, those services may have usage-based pricing.
Category: networking
Difficulty: basic
Related Terms
See Also