What is what3words?
Quick answer
what3words is a location system that divides the whole world into about 57 trillion squares, each 3 m × 3 m (10 ft × 10 ft), and gives every square a unique combination of three words, like ///filled.count.soap. It lets you share a precise spot where there’s no street address.
Street addresses work well for houses, but not for a festival entrance, a picnic spot in a park or a car broken down on a country road. what3words was created in London in 2013 to solve that problem.
How it works
- An algorithm assigns three dictionary words to every 3-metre square on Earth.
- The app uses your phone’s GPS to show the three words for where you’re standing.
- Anyone can type those words into the app or website to find the exact same square.
The words are fixed and never change. Similar-sounding combinations are placed far apart, so a typo usually points to somewhere obviously wrong rather than just next door.
Who uses it
- Emergency services: Many UK police, fire and ambulance services accept what3words addresses, and can send a link that shows your three words if you don’t know where you are.
- Delivery and ride apps, to find precise entrances.
- Hikers, festival-goers and event organizers.
- Some car navigation systems, where you can say the three words aloud.
Is it free?
The app and website are free for individuals. The company makes money by licensing the system to businesses.
Limits to know
- It’s a private, proprietary system, unlike open coordinates such as latitude and longitude or Google’s open-source Plus Codes.
- Mishearing a single word gives a completely different location, so read it back to be sure.
- It’s only as accurate as your phone’s GPS.
In an emergency, always call the emergency number first. For finding your location online in other ways, see what your IP address reveals and what time zone you’re in.
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