Pinpoint: A virtual user conference Register today
Smarty
    • WEBINAR RECAP: In this recap, we’re going over the ins and outs of address data. Learn about address components, ZIP9, ZIP11, non-postals, and other hacks.

    In this webinar, our geocoding and address expert Adam Charlton went over the ins and outs of address data. He gave details about address components and how they influence the way an address is composed. He also dove into the difference between ZIP9 and ZIP11, what a non-postal is, and other address hacks you didn’t learn in primary school.

    Standardization and validation

    What exactly is a valid address? There are lots of different definitions depending on what your goal is with the address. For example, a parking lot address could be a valid address for a real estate developer, but not for package delivery.

    The same goes for USPS valid addresses, parcel validation, or non-USPS valid addresses.

    Ultimately you need to decide how you are going to standardize for your needs to ensure that addresses are written the way that is most useful to you. Keep in mind that improperly standardizing addresses can cause significant problems.

    Address anatomy

    In the webinar, Adam outlined the following address components and how they inform address systems.

    • Primary Number
    • Pre Direction
    • Street Name
    • Street Suffix
    • Post Direction
    • Secondary Designator
    • Secondary Number
    • City
    • State
    • ZIP

    ZIP Codes

    Tending to lead to confusion, the secrets of ZIP Codes were unraveled. You can learn everything you need to know about ZIP Codes in this article and ZIP+4 Codes in this article if you’d rather not watch the video.

    Did you know that ZIP Codes can overlap areas and cross state/county boundaries? Did you know that a ZIP Code often corresponds to a street segment, not just a block of a city or town?

    Geocoding

    Finally, Adam took us through the benefits and basic levels of Geocode accuracy. He did suggest that for those who are looking to learn more about Geocoding and perhaps interested in a deeper dive on the topic you should check out the recording of his Geocoding webinar.

    Looking to start standardizing and validating addresses?

    Get a free trial of the world's best address validation tools and start improving the quality of your address database today!

    View the full webinar recording here

    Subscribe to our blog!
    Learn more about RSS feeds here.
    rss feed icon
    Subscribe Now
    Read our 5 address validation use cases ebook nowDownload now
    Read our recent posts
    Tariffs are high. Your address accuracy should be higher.
    Arrow Icon
    Tariffs are spiking. Shipping costs are climbing. Margins are shrinking. You can’t control global trade policy, but you can control how efficient and accurate your operations are in response. Most ecommerce teams, logistics planners, and data managers miss one of their best cost-saving opportunities: addressing accuracy. Bad address data isn’t hidden. It sits in your systems, shows up in carrier returns, and quietly drains profits every day. When tariffs rise to 15 to 50 percent in some product categories and import volumes are falling, every shipment becomes more expensive, every delay costs more, and every lost customer hurts more.
    Pinpoint: The Smarty virtual user conference, because the world is better validated
    Arrow Icon
    November 2025 | 100% online | 100% awesomeJoin us this November for the Smarty Virtual User Conference, a two-day event packed with insights, tools, laughs, and $1000 worth of prizes. This event is for you, whether you’re optimizing delivery accuracy, improving compliance, or just trying to figure out if your neighbor really has a breakfast nook. What to expect:2 days, 12 hours of content, zero fluffLive sessions from address data prosHands-on demos of Smarty’s latest tools and pluginsGiveaways galore, like gift cards, swag, and even a chance at a massive LEGO setHidden Easter eggs throughout the event (no, seriously—find them and win)An after-party with games (shoutout to Brady Amundson)Tailored tracks for every roleFor developers:Roll up your sleeves.
    Welcome to the Address Zoo #1 | Override & underride city addresses
    Arrow Icon
    The benefits of reliable, easy-to-implement address data are straightforward. Actual addresses, on the other hand, aren’t always so cut and dry. If you’re looking to become an expert in everything that begins or ends with an address, this series is for you. We’ll demystify the types of addresses that have developers scratching their heads and introduce you to the tools keeping your address data best-in-class. Come one, come all, and enter the wonderful world of peculiar addresses! Let’s see what’s on exhibit.
    Previous Post
    Next Post

    Ready to get started?

    Schedule Demo
    42-day Free Trial