The process of obtaining a user’s geolocation information and parameters based just on their IP address is known as IP geolocation or IP address geographical location. Because every internet service provider (ISP) gives every device on their network an IP address, this is made possible. A device can be a desktop computer, laptop, router, tablet, or cell phone. It is feasible to ascertain a user’s location and other details by using their IP address. However, whether these services offer precise IP geolocation is the question. The response to this query varies based on the service you are utilizing.
It is a common misconception that IP geolocation services do not provide accurate geolocation data. But, APILayer’s ipstack solution is very accurate and reliable. In this guide, we’ll discuss ipstack geolocation APIs and how you can benefit from them.
Table of Contents
Why Are IP Addresses Important?
IP stands for internet protocol, which defines how information is transferred over the internet or local network. An IP address is a string of numbers identifying networks, domain names and hostnames, and individual devices on a network. All cell phones, edge devices, routers, and computers with network or internet access have an associated IP address. The IP address assigned to every single device is unique — no two devices have the same IP address.
How Does IP Address Geolocation Work?
Through a coding script, an internet user’s IP address is shared with a webpage when they view it on their computer or mobile device. For instance, if PHP is used to build a website, the PHP script echo {Client IP address: {.$_SERVER[{REMOTE_ADDR}]; can be used to share a user’s IP address with the page when the user requests access to the website.
IP-to-location databases are then used by IP address geographical location to ascertain which IP range—again, provided by ISPs—the supplied IP address falls within. After that, you can ascertain the region in which the IP range is utilized, providing you with an approximate idea of the user’s location. By using this data, one can ascertain details about a user’s location, including the nation, state, and city. However, IP address geolocation can never be 100% accurate because ISPs sometimes shuffle IPs among a few users inside a particular area.
What is ipstack’s IP Geolocation API?
ipstack is a leading IP geolocation service provider using an Application Programming Interface (API). You can extract a user’s location data using their IP address. Using a reliable IP address geographical location API with an IP address, you can determine a user’s region, country, time zone, street address, area code, and more. Here is an example use case for ipstack’s IP location API:
|
1 2 3 |
https://api.ipstack.com/134.201.250.155 ? access_key = YOUR_ACCESS_KEY |
The API requests IP address geographical location data for the IP address 134.201.250.155. This IP API is a REST API that returns a JSON object by default but you can also request data in XML format. Here is an example of the response object:
|
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 |
ip: "134.201.250.155" type: "ipv4" continent_code: "NA" continent_name: "North America" country_code: "US" country_name: "United States" region_code: "CA" region_name: "California" city: "Los Angeles" zip: 90012 latitude: 34.0655517578125 longitude: -118.24053955078125 location: Object {} time_zone: Object{} currency: Object{} connection: Object{} security: Object{} |
The location, time_zone, currency, and security contain detailed and accurate geographical location data regarding the given IP address.
Learn more in our comprehensive documentation.
Does ipstack Provide Accurate IP Geolocation?
Yes! ipstack offers the most accurate location data based on a user’s IP address. This API covers more than 2 million unique locations across the globe. It also has more than 200,000 cities in its geolocation databases. With this API you can access the physical location of all types of online visitors. This includes desktop, laptop, and mobile users who log in through their cellular network.
Also read: 5 Helpful Tips for Doing IP to Geolocation
How Accurate Is ipstack?
The ipstack IP geolocation database and API is integrated with a series of large ISPs. These database providers convey information about new and existing IP ranges resulting in a very high level of accuracy.
Benefits of Using ipstack IP-Based Geolocation Services
Using ipstack IP-based geolocation services has great benefits for you and your organization. Some of them include.
- Reliable: ipstack is a partner with various ISPs. Hence, you get accurate and reliable access to all types of geolocation databases all year round.
- Enhanced User Experience: Personalized user experiences are made possible for businesses via ipstack geolocation API. While e-commerce sites show localized price and shipping options, streaming services employ it to deliver material tailored to specific regions.
- Accurate: ipstack retrieves accurate geolocation data corresponding to an IP address. Whether you input a dynamic IP address or your input has static IP addresses, there is no compromise in the IP geolocation accuracy.
- Secure: ipstack API is built using 256-bit SSL encryption (HTTPS). Hence, you get bank-grade security with ipstack.
- Integration: ipstack offers a REST API to look up IP addresses. You can easily integrate these APIs into your software or build a geolocation lookup tool.
What is Geoblocking?
Restricting access to content or services based on a user’s geographic location is known as geoblocking, and it’s a tactic that online platforms and content providers frequently adopt.
Although geoblocking has generated some criticism and discussion, it can be a useful tool for addressing a number of concerns.
Copyright and Licensing: Copyright and licensing agreements are two of the main justifications for geo-blocking websites. It may be legally necessary for content providers to impose geographical restrictions on access to their material in order to abide by licensing agreements.
Regional Regulations: Compliance with local rules and regulations may also drive geoblocking. Information regulations, such as censorship laws, differ between nations and force internet platforms to limit access to particular information in particular areas.
Pricing and Market Segmentation: Geoblocking is occasionally used as a price and market segmentation technique for digital services and e-commerce. To maximize profits and accommodate regional tastes, businesses may provide varying price or content libraries according to different geographic areas.
Bypassing Geo Blocking: Users have created a number of workarounds for geoblocking, including proxy servers and virtual private networks (VPNs). These techniques may give people access to content that is prohibited, but they may also present moral and legal dilemmas.
User Frustration: When users try to access material or services and run into restrictions, geoblocking can be a source of irritation. This annoyance may cause people to have a bad impression of the business that is using geoblocking.
Although geoblocking has valid uses, such as adhering to local and copyright rules, it is still a controversial topic. In the realm of geoblocking, finding a balance between user access and rights protection is a constant problem.
Some Business Use Cases of ipstack IP-Based Geolocation Services
Here are some popular business use cases of ipstack IP geolocation APIs.
IP Geolocation Help with Content Personalization
With ipstack geolocation API, you can personalize your content according to a user’s location. The user’s device IP address is the key to extracting their location information. Once know their city, country, and time zone, you can customize all their content accordingly. For example, you can show display everything in the user’s local language, show all prices in the local currency, and more.
Ad-Targeting With IP Location API
Using an IP address, you can retrieve all the geolocation parameters and redirect visitors to relevant ads or show them geo-targeted ads. This type of internet-connected computing has great benefits For example, if there are special promotions or deals in a visitor’s region, you can display this information.
Preventing E-Commerce Fraud Using IP Geolocation API
The ipstack IP address geographical location API has a security module you can use to identify threats and site visitors with malicious intent. With IP-based geolocation, you can define the type of services that users from certain regions are allowed to access and place restrictions on others. You can also build an IP geolocation database with IP addresses that pose a potential threat to your system. Later, you can block all unwanted IP addresses or report them to your internet service provider.
Digital Rights Management
Yes! You can use ipstack to manage access to digital information and copyrighted material. Also, many countries impose restrictions on the kind of content that their users can download. Whether they use a mobile phone, desktop, or laptop, you can access their location and check if the material any user downloads is legitimate and legal.
Types of IP addresses: Static vs Dynamic IPs
The various kinds of IP addresses are vital in the intricate realm of IP address geographical location. Regional Internet registries, which assign and distribute IP addresses to businesses within their service regions, are the main source of IP address information.
These registries include:
- African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC)
- American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)
- Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC)
- Latin American and Caribbean Internet Address Registry (LACNIC)
- RIPE Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC)
Residential IP Address
Internet service providers (ISPs) usually assign residential IP addresses to individual homeowners or tenants.
Since these IPs are frequently dynamic, they may alter on a regular basis. Due to the changing nature of residential IPs, geolocation data associated with them may not always be able to pinpoint the precise address, but it may typically provide an indication of the user’s location, such as the city or neighborhood.
Using a Mobile Phone
Typically, mobile devices use the dynamic IP addresses that cellular networks provide to access the internet.
Users may experience an IP address change as they travel and alternate between multiple network towers. Due to this mobility, a mobile phone’s IP address’s exact location may not always correctly reflect where it is right now because it may be linked to the position of a former network tower.
Using a Dynamic IP
Typically assigned to residential customers, dynamic IPs fluctuate in value over time.
This can lead to problems with the exact IP location since if an IP address has changed recently, the location linked to it might not be current. Most home internet connections use dynamic IPs, which makes it more challenging to track and keep up-to-date geolocation using IP data precisely.
Using a VPN or Proxy
When a VPN (virtual private network) or proxy is used, the IP address that appears on websites and services on the Internet differs from the user’s actual IP address. By rerouting internet traffic through a server located in a different area, VPNs and proxies successfully conceal the user’s true location.
Due to the reported location corresponding to the VPN or proxy server rather than the user’s actual location, this might result in major errors in the IP address’s geolocation. However, this is also a helpful technique for people who want to alter an IP address’s geolocation for privacy or to access content that is prohibited in a certain region.
In the field of IP geolocation, every kind of IP address—residential, connected to a mobile device, connected to a VPN or proxy, or dynamic—presents different difficulties and factors to consider. Comprehending these classifications is vital to comprehending the complexities and constraints of IP geolocation systems.
Wrapping It Up!
IP address geographical location is crucial in the digital realm. IPstack’s API offers precise user location data, enhancing user experience and security. Tackling accuracy challenges, ipstack’s extensive database ensures reliable geolocation, supports e-commerce, digital rights, and content personalization, and proves vital for a secure, personalized online world amidst privacy concerns.
How Do I Sign Up For ipstack?
It is easy to sign up for ipstack. No credit card information is required. If you are happy with the service, you can subscribe to a regular plan.
Go ahead and make the most of ipstack IP geolocation services. Just enter your registration information and sign up for free!
FAQs
What do you need to know about IP-based geolocation?
IP address geographical location is the technique of determining the geographical location of an internet user by using the IP address of their computer or mobile device. Businesses who depend on the insights gained from understanding their consumers’ global locations may find IP address geolocation to be a helpful tool.
Why do we need geolocation?
Geolocation can be applied in many different ways. IP addresses can identify a country, region, state, city, or postal code. Geolocation can also find exact positioning coordinates and time zones, which is useful for tracking freight shipments and wildlife.
How accurate is ipstack IP Geolocation?
Some major ISPs have incorporated the ipstack IP geolocation database and API. These database providers provide very accurate information on both new and existing IP ranges.
Can ipstack Help Digital Rights Management?
Indeed! Ipstack can be used to control access to digital content and protected materials. Furthermore, a lot of nations have limitations on the kind of content that their citizens can download. You can find out where they are and verify whether the content they are downloading is authentic and allowed, regardless of whether they are using a laptop, desktop, or mobile device.
