A real-world location, designating a specific point on Earth, commonly tied to a building, land parcel, or other identifiable space. This locator serves as a fixed point for delivery of mail, provision of services, legal jurisdiction, and personal identification. For instance, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20500 uniquely identifies a recognizable structure.
Such locators are fundamental to numerous functions. They facilitate commerce by providing a destination for goods and services. They are also crucial for governance, enabling accurate census taking, taxation, and law enforcement. Historically, the need to identify and manage properties drove the development of addressing systems, from simple village designations to the complex, hierarchical formats used today.