Zip Codes in Web Apps: A Tutorial on Validating Cities & Calculating Distance
By Edgar Hassler on June 4th, 2008
[Editor's Note: This post was authored originally in 2006. Edgar will be writing an update shortly, but some things have definitely changed in that time.]
As a web developer, I’m constantly having to deal with zip codes, with almost terrifyingly frequency. These experiences no longer leave me in cold sweat; instead, I’ve warmed to the concept as it’s nice to be able to validate someone’s zip code based on the city and state they entered. (Or to autopopulate their city and state based on a zip code.) This can be a major headache saver if you’re doing bulk or CASS-certified mailings as the cost increases for each unverified address. Ensuring the accuracy of your data at the data entry point is always a good idea and is a relatively simple endeavor. Follow us after the jump for a look into what can be done about zips.
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Tagged with: census, coordinates, geocoding, GIS, great circle distance, latitude, longitude, mysql, openGIS, postal codes, r-tree, web development, zip codes
Posted in: Development, How To


