GPS (Global Positioning System)
Global Positioning System
A system that uses radio signals from satellites to pinpoint a location on Earth.
In Simple Terms
GPS is a system that picks up radio signals from satellites in space to figure out exactly where you are. It's used in smartphones and car navigation systems to show your current location on a map. Roughly speaking, it works by calculating the time differences in when signals arrive from multiple satellites to pinpoint your position.
Behind the Name
GPS stands for "Global Positioning System." Breaking down the words: "Global" means worldwide, "Positioning" means determining a location, and "System" means a mechanism. Put together, the name literally describes what it does — a system for pinpointing your location anywhere on the globe.
Take a Closer Look!
GPS is a system that uses radio signals from satellites orbiting the Earth to determine your location.
Numerous satellites launched by the United States are constantly transmitting signals, and devices like your smartphone pick them up.
Simply put, it works by calculating the time differences between signals arriving from multiple satellites to figure out your position.
By measuring how long each signal takes to arrive, the system works out the distance to each satellite, and by finding the point where the distances from four or more satellites intersect, it can determine your precise latitude, longitude, and even altitude. In open areas with no obstructions, GPS can pinpoint your location very accurately, but in places like between tall buildings or in the mountains, signals can be blocked or reflected, which reduces accuracy.
Beyond smartphone map apps, GPS is used all over everyday life — in car navigation, GPS-enabled child-tracking devices, and automated drone flight, to name a few.
It's a critical network and hardware infrastructure that quietly supports our daily lives.