Pinpoint Precision: Discovering ZIP Codes with GeoFindZip

Overview

GeoFindZip is the reverse‑lookup endpoint in the CDXGeoData suite. Given a pair of latitude and longitude coordinates, it returns the containing or nearest U.S. ZIP Code, along with centroid coordinates and optional distance metrics, all in a single HTTP call.

Key Business Use Cases

1. Reverse Geocoding for Mapping Apps

Convert raw GPS coordinates from mobile devices or IoT sensors into human‑readable ZIP Codes to display on maps or in location‑aware dashboards.

2. Geo‑Aware Analytics

Enrich event logs or transaction records with ZIP Code context—segment usage patterns by postal area or feed ZIP‑level aggregates into BI reports.

3. Geofencing & Compliance

Validate that a given coordinate falls within a serviceable ZIP Code or flag out‑of‑bounds activity for compliance with regional regulations.

Developer Spotlight: C# Code Snippet

// GeoFindZip C# example
using System;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Text.Json;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace CDXGeoDataSample
{
    class Program
    {
        static async Task Main()
        {
            var apiKey    = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("CDX_GEO_KEY");
            var latitude  = 34.052235;   // Los Angeles
            var longitude = -118.243683;
            var format    = "json";
            var url       = $"https://geodata.cdxtech.com/api/geofindzip"
                          + $"?key={apiKey}"
                          + $"&latitude={latitude}"
                          + $"&longitude={longitude}"
                          + $"&format={format}";

            using var client = new HttpClient();
            var response     = await client.GetAsync(url);
            response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();

            var json   = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
            var root   = JsonDocument.Parse(json).RootElement;
            var result = root.GetProperty("results")[0];

            Console.WriteLine($"ZIP Code: {result.GetProperty("zipCode").GetString()}");
            Console.WriteLine($"Centroid: {result.GetProperty("latitude")}, {result.GetProperty("longitude")}");
            Console.WriteLine($"Distance (miles): {result.GetProperty("distanceMiles").GetDouble()}");
        }
    }
}
  

Sample Response

{
  "service": "GeoFindZip",
  "results": [
    {
      "zipCode": "90012",
      "latitude": 34.0614,
      "longitude": -118.237,
      "distanceMiles": 0.9
    }
  ],
  "tokenCharge": 1
}
  

Getting Started

1. Sign up for a free CDXGeoData account and retrieve your API key.
2. Invoke GET /api/geofindzip with key, latitude, longitude, and format.
3. Parse the first element of the results array to get the matching ZIP Code and related metadata.