# Travel >> Travel Preparation >> Maps

How to Convert an Address to Longitude

Street addresses can change over time, but latitude and longitude coordinates are absolute indicators of location and never change. Specifying the longitude and latitude of an address allows you to pinpoint its location precisely; this is especially useful for specifying location in developing areas, where streets frequently change and receive new names. Converting an address to latitude and longitude coordinates and then isolating the longitude is easy to do using tools available on the Internet.

Instructions

- 1
  Navigate to the World Atlas latitude and longitude finder tool (see Resources).
- 2
  Type your full address into the text box on the left side of the page and press the yellow "Submit" button. Include your country as part of the address.
- 3
  Find the latitude and longitude numbers for your address displayed in blue text directly above the map on the right side of the page.
- 4
  Locate the pair of numbers immediately before the letter "W" or "E." These numbers and the letter that follows them represent the longitude for the address you entered. The number in the pair that appears in front of the degree symbol is known as degrees of longitude; the number in front of the apostrophe symbol is called minutes of longitude.