Do you wonder why the google search results are different between each country or the food delivery application can suggest the nearby restaurants based on your location? The technology behind these features is Geolocation. Geolocation refers to the technology and methods used to determine the precise geographic location of a device.
Nowadays, many web and mobile applications use Geolocation to fetch their data based on customer’s location. Therefore, when we test these applications, we also need to do Geolocation testing. In this article, I would like to share the important terminology and common scenarios of Geolocation. Understanding them help you to do the Geolocation testing more effectively.
Geolocation Terminology
From GPS and IP geolocation to geofencing and triangulation, familiarizing oneself with these terms provides a solid foundation for exploring the world of geolocation. Let’s start:
- Geofencing
Geofencing can be explained that the system or application creating a virtual geographical fence for the user, this fence may or may not resemble the actual geographical location. If we move the device out of the geofence, geofence will trigger some events to perform some relevant actions. We can use a Sim Card for an example. When we bring the phone with Vietnam’s Sim Car to another country, we cannot make a call and we may receive a notification to turn on the Roaming Service.
- Geotargeting
Geotargeting provides personalized content or services to the users based on their geolocation. Geotargeting is usually in marketing and advertising businesses. The Google or Facebook ads are the example fo this technology.
- Geoblocking
Geoblocking is a technique to block the users from accessing some content based on their location. We can use Netflix, Google playstore or Apple appstore as an example.
- Geotagging
Geotagging helps us to attach the geographical location data to an image, video or other files. For example, we add tag the location in the post of Facebook. Or we the location will be added to an image automatically after we take it with an iphone or android phone.
- Geomessaging
Geomessaging is the technique that we can send a message to another device with a geolocation data in it. For example, we can send message with a location via whatsapp application. Or when we send a SOS message to an emergency contact, the current location with latitude and longitude coordinates will be sent also.
Use cases of Geolocation Testing
Now, we look into some common scenarios where the Geolocation factor is relevant. Getting familiar with these scenarios will help us to design test cases for Geolocation testing more effectively.
- Regional protocols:
Each country imposes specific regulations and requirements that websites or mobile applications must adhere to. Taking Netflix as an example, it must comply with the rules set by each country. Additionally, certain mobile applications may not be accessible in the Vietnamese Apple App Store or Google Play Store, but utilizing a VPN to change the IP address of our device to a different country can enable access to these applications.
- Search Engine Results:
Performing a Google search with the same keyword in different countries will have different search results.
- Advertisement targeting:
Google and Facebook collect the user data and target their advertisement to the user using Geolocation detail. For example, when we search for a product in Vietnam. Then we will see the advertisement about the Vietnamese stores which sell this product when we browse Facebook or a website which contain Google Ads.
- Security:
Banking systems and applications related to payments often use Geolocation to enhance the security of the application. For example: if we make a payment in Vietnam then after 1 hour we make another payment in Europe, the second transaction will be declined, and we cannot make the payment.
Conclusion
Familiarizing oneself with geolocation terminology is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of the concepts and technologies involved in determining geographic location.
This knowledge helps us decide and leverage geolocation effectively.
