Batch Geolocation of IP addresses
Typical geocoding involves converting postal addresses or other locations to map coordinates. IP geolocation is another type of geolocation that uses IP addresses. The results are an approximate location (usually accurate to the city level) for the computer behind the IP address. You can use IP geolocation to visualize website visitors, server locations, and more. BatchGeo recognizes IP addresses automatically and can create maps like the one below.
Get StartedIn this map we visualized the IP addresses for the command centers of now-defunct Rustock botnet, which ran millions of spam messages through compromised machines between 2006-2011. Any spreadsheet of IP addresses and other data can be pasted into our easy to use mapping tool.
What is an IP address?
Every computer connected to the Internet has a public IP address, or Internet Protocol address. It is a sequence of four numbers separated by periods, such as 104.68.91.63. Like a physical address, IP addresses are used for routing and delivery. Instead of letters and packages, of course, computers send data, such as web pages.
Since IP addresses are typically made available by internet providers, with data centers in every region that they operate, knowing an IP address can often tell you the owner's approximate location.
Map website visitors
Visualize your website visitor data by mapping the multiple IP addresses from your web site logs using our batch interface. Just open your website visitor logs in any spreadsheet editor such as Excel, Numbers, or Google Spreadsheets. Depending on your web server, you may need to ensure that the IP address is in its own column, then copy the addresses (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C), and paste (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) the IP addresses and other associated data into BatchGeo.
The maps generated from our interface are far more accurate and interactive than those included in Google Analytics and similar platforms. Additionally, our flexible interface allows you to juxtapose data in any number of custom ways on the map. You can keep the map hosted in our free hosting environment, or save the data out to a Google Earth KML file for secure storage on your own system.
To achieve the look of the map above, you can enable map marker clustering under advanced options. This will show markers that would otherwise overlap as a larger marker with the number of markers it has clustered. This allows you to visualize and quantify trends in your visitors.
Geolocation data returned
The Geolocation API being used is care of ipinfo.net, which returns the following data:
- Country
- Region
- City Name
- Zip / Postal Code
- Latitude and Longitude
BatchGeo automatically uses this data to plot each IP address on a map, giving you a simple copy-paste map of IP addresses—or any other representation of a location. Get started with BatchGeo now for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IP geolocation and how does it work?
IP geolocation determines the approximate physical location of a device based on its Internet Protocol (IP) address. Internet providers assign IP addresses from data centers in specific regions, so an IP address can typically be traced to a city-level location. BatchGeo uses this to plot IP addresses on a map.
How accurate is IP address geolocation?
IP geolocation is generally accurate to the city level. It can reliably identify the country, region, and city associated with an IP address. However, it cannot pinpoint exact street addresses since IP addresses are assigned to network providers, not physical locations.
Can I map website visitor IP addresses with BatchGeo?
Yes. Export your web server logs to a spreadsheet, ensure IP addresses are in their own column, then copy and paste the data into BatchGeo. We automatically detect IP address columns and geolocate them, creating an interactive map of your visitor locations.
What geolocation data is returned for each IP address?
For each IP address, BatchGeo returns the country, region/state, city name, zip/postal code, and latitude and longitude coordinates. All of this data is used to plot the IP address on your map and is available in marker popups.
Can I combine IP addresses with other location data in the same map?
BatchGeo primarily processes one type of location data per map. If you have a mix of IP addresses and street addresses, it's best to create separate maps. For street addresses, use our address geocoding feature.
