Explained: How GPS works on your smartphone to give location data
Last Updated: 2026-08-04 08:49:13
Every smartphone used today has GPS or Global Positioning System which helps you manage the location basis through which apps for food delivery and hailing a cab operate. You even need GPS to navigate while driving and give you an accurate estimate of distance travelled and everything else involved when you are on the move.
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GPS uses satellites to provide location data.- A phone chip communicates with GPS satellites.
- Calculates location based on signal distance/time.
GPS has been around for decades, even before smartphones became a hot property. But its purpose is more important than ever. Here’s a detailed look at GPS, how it works and what really makes it give your phone the accurate details.
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What is GPS
GPS is running all thanks to the network of satellites that communicate with a chip inside your phone that can pick up the signals to give you accurate location data. GPS is owned by the US government and used across countries, including India, where you have billions of smartphones relying on GPS data to use thousands of apps that need location access.
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How does GPS help you with accurate location data?
The link between the GPS supported chip on your phone and the satellites that operate at the Earth orbit provide the ideal communication that delivers the data to the stations on Earth.
The network between the satellite and the ground stations need to be spot on to give you precise location details. This signal is then picked by a chip inside your phone, watch or even the car with navigation consoles where the final data is presented to the end user.
How does your phone use the GPS data signal to give you location?
The chip or receiver inside the phone calculates the distance and time taken for the radio signal from the satellite to hit the device. The series of satellites then derive the accurate location based on the latitude and longitude of the person with the device. This is how your Swiggy order or Uber cab reaches right outside your doorstep.