Geo-point and geo-shape types in Elasticsearch - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a geo-point type in Elasticsearch?

A geo-point type stores a single geographical point defined by latitude and longitude coordinates. It is used for location-based queries like distance or bounding box searches.

beginner

What kind of data does the geo-shape type store?

The geo-shape type stores complex shapes such as polygons, lines, and multi-points. It allows spatial queries like intersection, containment, and distance on these shapes.

beginner

How do you define a geo-point field in an Elasticsearch mapping?

You define it by setting the field type to "geo_point" in the mapping. For example:

{ "properties": { "location": { "type": "geo_point" } } }

beginner

Name one common query type used with geo-point fields.

The geo_distance query finds documents with geo-points within a certain distance from a given point.

intermediate

What is the difference between geo-point and geo-shape types?

Geo-point stores a single point (latitude and longitude). Geo-shape stores complex shapes like polygons or lines. Geo-shape supports more advanced spatial queries.

Which Elasticsearch type would you use to store a single location coordinate?

A geo_point

B geo_shape

C keyword

D text

The geo_point type is designed to store single latitude and longitude coordinates.

Which query is best to find documents within 10km of a location?

A geo_distance

B match

C term

D range

The geo_distance query filters documents by distance from a geo-point.

What kind of shapes can geo-shape store?

A Only points

B Numbers

C Text strings

D Polygons, lines, and multi-points

Geo-shape supports complex shapes like polygons, lines, and multi-points.

How do you specify a geo-point field in Elasticsearch mapping?

A "type": "geo_shape"

B "type": "geo_point"

C "type": "text"

D "type": "integer"

You set the field type to "geo_point" to store location coordinates.

Which type supports spatial queries like intersection and containment?

A keyword

B geo_point

C geo_shape

D date

Geo-shape supports advanced spatial queries such as intersection and containment.

Explain the difference between geo-point and geo-shape types in Elasticsearch.

Think about simple points versus polygons or lines.

Describe how you would define and query a location field using geo-point in Elasticsearch.

Start with the mapping, then how to search nearby points.

Practice

1.

What is the main difference between geo_point and geo_shape types in Elasticsearch?

easy

A. geo_point stores a single location; geo_shape stores complex shapes like polygons.

B. geo_point stores polygons; geo_shape stores single points.

C. geo_point is used for text data; geo_shape is used for numbers.

D. geo_point stores multiple points; geo_shape stores only lines.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand geo_point type

   geo_point stores a single geographic location using latitude and longitude coordinates.

2. Step 2: Understand geo_shape type

   geo_shape stores complex geographic shapes such as polygons, lines, or multi-points.

3. Final Answer:

   geo_point stores a single location; geo_shape stores complex shapes like polygons. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Single point vs complex shape = C [OK]

Hint: Remember: point = one spot, shape = many spots connected [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing points with polygons
• Thinking geo_point stores multiple points
• Mixing data types with geo types

2.

Which of the following is the correct way to define a geo_point field in an Elasticsearch mapping?

{
  "properties": {
    "location": {
      "type": "?"
    }
  }
}

easy

A. "geo_shape"

B. "geo_point"

C. "point_geo"

D. "location_point"

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Elasticsearch geo types

   Elasticsearch uses "geo_point" as the type name for single geographic points.

2. Step 2: Match the correct type in mapping

   The mapping must specify "type": "geo_point" to store latitude and longitude.

3. Final Answer:

   "geo_point" -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Mapping type for point = "geo_point" [OK]

Hint: Use exact type names: geo_point for points [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using incorrect type names like geo_shape for points
• Typos in type string
• Confusing field name with type

3.

Given this Elasticsearch document indexed with a geo_point field location:

{ "location": { "lat": 40.7128, "lon": -74.0060 } }

Which query will correctly find documents within 10km of this point?

medium

A. { "range": { "location": { "gte": "10km" } } }

B. { "geo_shape": { "location": { "shape": { "type": "point", "coordinates": [40.7128, -74.0060] }, "relation": "within" } } }

C. { "term": { "location": "40.7128,-74.0060" } }

D. { "geo_distance": { "distance": "10km", "location": { "lat": 40.7128, "lon": -74.0060 } } }

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct query type for geo_point

   For geo_point, geo_distance query finds documents within a distance from a point.

2. Step 2: Check query syntax and parameters

   { "geo_distance": { "distance": "10km", "location": { "lat": 40.7128, "lon": -74.0060 } } } uses geo_distance with correct distance and point coordinates.

3. Final Answer:

   { "geo_distance": { "distance": "10km", "location": { "lat": 40.7128, "lon": -74.0060 } } } -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   geo_distance query = { "geo_distance": { "distance": "10km", "location": { "lat": 40.7128, "lon": -74.0060 } } } [OK]

Hint: Use geo_distance for points, geo_shape for polygons [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using geo_shape query on geo_point field
• Wrong coordinate order in geo_shape
• Using term or range queries for geo data

4.

What is wrong with this Elasticsearch mapping for a geo_shape field named area?

{
  "properties": {
    "area": {
      "type": "geo_point"
    }
  }
}

The data to be stored is a polygon shape.

medium

A. The type should be geo_shape to store polygons.

B. The field name area is invalid for geo data.

C. The mapping must include coordinates property.

D. The type geo_point supports polygons by default.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check field type for polygon data

   Polygons require geo_shape type, not geo_point.

2. Step 2: Identify mapping error

   Mapping uses geo_point which only supports single points, so it cannot store polygons.

3. Final Answer:

   The type should be geo_shape to store polygons. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Polygon needs geo_shape type = D [OK]

Hint: Polygons need geo_shape, not geo_point [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using geo_point for polygon shapes
• Assuming field name affects type
• Adding coordinates in mapping instead of data

5.

You want to store a city boundary as a polygon and find all points inside it. Which Elasticsearch setup is correct?

{
  "mappings": {
    "properties": {
      "city_boundary": { "type": "?" },
      "user_location": { "type": "?" }
    }
  }
}

Choose the correct types for city_boundary and user_location.

hard

A. "geo_shape" for both city_boundary and user_location

B. "geo_point" for city_boundary and "geo_shape" for user_location

C. "geo_shape" for city_boundary and "geo_point" for user_location

D. "geo_point" for both city_boundary and user_location

Solution

1. Step 1: Determine type for city boundary polygon

   City boundary is a polygon, so it requires geo_shape type.

2. Step 2: Determine type for user location point

   User location is a single point, so it requires geo_point type.

3. Step 3: Match types to fields

   Assign geo_shape to city_boundary and geo_point to user_location.

4. Final Answer:

   "geo_shape" for city_boundary and "geo_point" for user_location -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Polygon = geo_shape, Point = geo_point [OK]

Hint: Polygon needs geo_shape; point needs geo_point [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping types between polygon and point
• Using geo_point for polygons
• Using geo_shape for single points unnecessarily