Documentation

Geolocation Fields Syncing

Last modified: September 11, 2026

Introduction

Gravity Geolocation fields synchronize by sharing a Geocoder Field. Address, Coordinates, Map, and Locator Button fields linked to the same Geocoder operate as one location group.

  • Selecting an autocomplete address updates the coordinates and marker.
  • Entering valid coordinates can reverse-geocode the location and update the address.
  • Moving the marker can update the coordinates and, unless disabled, the address.
  • Using a Locator Button sends the detected position to its linked Geocoder.

The Geocoder Field

The Geocoder is the processing and storage center for its group. It sends addresses or coordinates for geocoding, stores the complete normalized location, manages its marker state, and distributes updates to linked fields.

Specialized fields such as Directions, Distance & Duration, Address Validation, Nearest Locations, and Drawing fields use their own source selectors and saved data. Link their required Geocoder or Map dependencies as described in each field guide.

Linking Geolocation Fields to a Geocoder

In the Gravity Forms editor, open each Address, Coordinates, Map, or Locator Button Field and select the intended Geocoder in its Geocoder Field setting. A Map Field can display one or more selected Geocoder Fields.

Fields linked to different Geocoders belong to different location groups and do not overwrite each other.

Organizing Geolocation Groups

1. Single Location

Use one Geocoder with an Address, Coordinates, Map, Locator Button, and optional Reset Location Button.

2. Multiple Independent Locations

Use separate Geocoder groups for locations such as home and work, pickup and drop-off, or origin and destination.

3. Shared Map

Select multiple Geocoder Fields in one Map Field to display several synchronized markers on the same map.

Automatic Location Detection

Use a Locator Button when the visitor should choose when to retrieve their position. To run location detection automatically when the form loads, open the form’s Settings > Gravity Geolocation panel, enable Auto Locator, select the Geocoder Fields to populate, choose Disabled, Default, or Fallback IP behavior, and configure the success and failure messages.

The form-level Auto Locator is separate from the settings inside an individual Geocoder Field.

Saved Data After Submission

When the form is submitted, each Geocoder Field stores a normalized location record that can include the place name, street components, neighborhood, city, region, country, postcode, formatted address, latitude, longitude, and other provider data.

Linked fields can save their own visible values, but the Geocoder’s structured record is the main source for entry details, notifications, merge tags, exports, and later integrations. Control and panel fields such as Locator Button, Reset Location Button, Directions Panel, and Nearest Locations Panel do not save independent values.

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