Google Maps doesn't use just Satellite or GPS. It also uses Graph algorithms, and one of them is the most famous Dijkstra algorithm,

What is the Role of Satellites or GPS in Google Maps?

GPS is a Network of multiple satellites orbiting the Earth. These satellites continuously send signals containing the time and exact location. Your device or laptop has a Signal Receiver that continuously receives the signal from different satellites. For best accuracy, you must receive signals from at least four satellites. Also, your device constantly calculates how long each signal takes to arrive and your exact position (latitude, longitude, and altitude). Now, it's able to show blue dots on Google Maps that indicate your position, track your movement, and suggest nearby places—these features also work in real time.

Satellite view Vs GPS Satellite:

Satellite View is also responsible for displaying aerial imagery, while GPS is responsible for showing your current location.

Dijkstra's algorithm is a famous graph search algorithm used to find the shortest path from a starting node or vertex. To all other nodes or vertex

What are Dijkstra algorithms?

Dijkstra algorithms are developed by the Edsger Dijkstra in 1956. Dijkstra tries to locate a short path in a graph.

📌 Steps of the Algorithm

Given a starting node start:Set the distances to all nodes to infinity, except for the start node, which should be set to 0.

Put all the nodes in a priority queue.

As long as the queue isn't empty:

• Choose the node u that is closest to you.
• For every neighbor v of u: Change the distance to v if the path through u is shorter.
• Keep going until you reach the target node or visit all the nodes.

🌐 Use Cases

Google Maps: Finding the quickest way to get from one place to another. Network routing is the process of finding the cheapest way through a network.

• Finding paths for characters in games.

⚠️ Limitations

• It doesn’t work correctly with negative edge weights.
• For large graphs, performance can be slow unless optimised (e.g., using a Fibonacci heap).