GPSLatitude: What This Metadata Tag Means
GPSLatitude is the north-south part of the GPS position where a photo was taken. Together with GPSLongitude it gives the exact spot.
Last updated: November 13, 2026
What it means
GPSLatitude holds degrees, minutes, and seconds north or south of the equator, and GPSLatitudeRef says which (N or S). GPSLongitude and GPSLongitudeRef do the same east or west. Together they mark where the camera was.
Example
- Tag
- GPSLatitude
- Group in ExifMeta
- EXIF
- Example value
- 48 deg 51' 30.13" N
This is how the tag appears in ExifMeta’s results. The value in your file will differ.
Typical values
ExifTool shows it as degrees, minutes, and seconds followed by N or S. Latitude runs from 0 at the equator to 90 at the poles. Map apps use decimal degrees instead: 48 deg 51 min 30.13 sec N becomes 48.85837, and southern latitudes are negative.
Where it comes from
Phones and cameras with GPS write these tags when location is on for the camera. Some cameras take the location from a paired phone app.
What it is useful for
With GPSLongitude it shows where a photo was taken. That matters most before you share a photo, because a home, school, or workplace can be read straight from the file. It also helps place photos on a map or check a claimed location.
Watch out for
The coordinates show where the device was, not necessarily the subject. Indoors or right after start-up, a phone can record a position tens or hundreds of meters off. Location can also be stored in XMP, so check both before you share a file.
Find it in your file
Upload a file to ExifMeta, then type GPSLatitude into the “Search tags and values” box under All metadata. If nothing matches, the file does not contain this tag.
Learn more in the guide: How to Check Where a Photo Was Taken (GPS Location)
See the tags in your own file
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