Source: EPSG:4326 — WGS 84
geographic system using latitude and longitude on an ellipsoid · Area of use: World (by country)
+proj=longlat +datum=WGS84 +no_defs +type=crsMore about EPSG:4326 →
Convert EPSG:4326 to EPSG:4978
Online coordinate converter from WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) to WGS 84 (EPSG:4978). Enter your source coordinates and get the result instantly. All transformations happen in your browser — no data is sent to any server.
About converting WGS 84 to WGS 84
Converting from WGS 84 geographic (EPSG:4326) to WGS 84 geocentric Cartesian (EPSG:4978) transforms latitude/longitude/height into Earth-Centred Earth-Fixed XYZ metres. This is the form GPS receivers compute internally and the natural reference frame for satellite orbit work, geodynamics, and Helmert datum transformations.
The transformation is a closed-form geodetic-to-cartesian formula on the WGS 84 ellipsoid (semi-major 6,378,137 m, inverse flattening 298.257223563). With ellipsoidal height supplied it is invertible to floating-point precision; with only latitude/longitude (no height) the result assumes height zero and the inverse loses height information.
Why people convert EPSG:4326 to EPSG:4978
- Applying a Helmert seven-parameter datum transformation
- Interfacing with raw GPS receiver output
- Satellite orbit and tracking computations
- Geodynamics and tectonic-plate modelling
Try it: Equator/prime meridian (height 0)
Input (EPSG:4326): 0, 0
Convert EPSG:4326 to EPSG:4978 in code
The same transformation with common GIS tools and libraries:
from pyproj import Transformer
transformer = Transformer.from_crs("EPSG:4326", "EPSG:4978", always_xy=True)
x, y = transformer.transform(-73.9857, 40.7484)
print(x, y)Target: EPSG:4978 — WGS 84
geocentric Cartesian system (Earth-centred Earth-fixed) · Area of use: World
+proj=geocent +datum=WGS84 +units=m +no_defs +type=crsMore about EPSG:4978 →
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to supply ellipsoidal height for this conversion?
- If you don't, the result assumes height = 0 (the WGS 84 ellipsoid surface). For most geodetic computations you should supply ellipsoidal height, not orthometric (sea-level) height — they differ by the geoid undulation, which can be tens of metres.
- How accurate is converting WGS 84 to WGS 84?
- Projection-only conversions are accurate to floating-point precision. If a datum shift is involved, browser-based tools use Helmert parameters which are accurate to roughly 1-5 m; for surveying-grade work apply the official grid-shift transformation in a desktop GIS.
- Does my data leave the browser when I use this converter?
- No. All coordinate transformations are computed locally in your browser using proj4js. The coordinates you enter are never transmitted to any server.