Where location is stored
EXIF GPS fields can include latitude, longitude, altitude, a timestamp and a direction. North, south, east and west references are part of the conversion to signed decimal coordinates.
Interpret the result carefully
Coordinates describe what the file says, not necessarily where the visible event occurred. Editing, screenshots and platform exports can remove or alter the fields.
- Do not load a third-party map automatically
- Copy coordinates only as an explicit action
- Remove GPS before public sharing when location is sensitive
Convert the coordinate without losing the hemisphere
Cameras commonly store GPS as rational degrees, minutes and seconds plus a separate N, S, E or W reference. Decimal degrees are easier to copy and compare, but the conversion is only correct when south and west become negative.
Keep enough precision for the task. Six decimal places can describe a point within roughly a fraction of a metre under ideal conditions, which is far more detail than most sharing situations need. Do not publish that precision casually.
- Latitude range: -90 to 90
- Longitude range: -180 to 180
- South and west are negative
- Altitude may use a separate below-sea-level reference
What the four-case test proves
The test is not a map lookup and it does not identify a real address. It verifies the arithmetic and sign handling that turn four controlled DMS values into decimal output. The north and east examples remain positive; the south and west examples become negative.
A structurally valid coordinate still may be old, copied or edited. Treat it as what the file claims. If location matters for journalism, legal work or safety, compare the original source, timestamps, visible context and other independent evidence.
Remove location with a closed-loop check
When a coordinate is sensitive, create a separate cleaned file. Check EXIF GPS, XMP location fields and related altitude or direction tags, because removing only the two most familiar fields can leave useful location context behind.
Analyze the downloaded copy again before sharing it. The correct conclusion is “no supported location metadata detected,” not “this image cannot reveal a location.” Street signs, landscapes, reflections and filenames remain visible or inferable outside metadata.
What this does not prove
A metadata result describes the fields and structures that the supported parser could read. It does not, by itself, prove authenticity, intent, authorship or the truth of the visible scene.