Google Maps is rolling out a new feature “Plus Code” that creates a unique six-digit code based on your location.
This code can be shared with others and used when you’re located away from a traditional street address. It is available with a tap of the blue circle icon that represents your location in the app.
The Plus Codes are designed for countries where streets are not named thus making it difficult to identify addresses. According to Google, this can cause problems for emergency services trying to respond to incidents, and it has implications for everyday needs like postal deliveries.
Google also said that over 2 billion people worldwide either don’t have an address or have one that’s not easy to locate.
Plus Codes have been around in Google Maps for a little while, but until now, the main way of accessing them has been by dropping a red pin on a location. Tapping the pin reveals the location’s Plus Code, alongside latitude, longitude, and a street address (if applicable).
Plus Codes normally come in the form of a series of digits separated by a plus symbol, along with the name of the town or city where it’s located. For example, “HR8P+84 London” is the Plus Code for a spot in the middle of Hampstead Heath, a park in north London. If there’s no town nearby, the town name can be replaced by four-digit area code, and an additional character can be added to narrow down the location further.
A code can be turned into a location by entering it into the search box in Google Maps. It works offline, according to the Plus Codes website, and the technology is open source under the Apache 2.0 license, meaning other developers can include the technology in their apps.
Back in February, Google CEO Sundar Pichai described Plus Codes as an important part of making Google Maps work for more people around the world. “With a digital address, more people will be able to access things like banking and emergency services, receive personal mail and deliveries, and help people find and patronize their businesses,” the CEO wrote. “It’s still in the early days, but we’re excited about the potential.”
