Getting visitors country from their IP

Question

I want to get visitors country via their IP... Right now I'm using this (http://api.hostip.info/country.php?ip=...... )

Here is my code:

<?php

if (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_CLIENT_IP']))
{
    $real_ip_adress = $_SERVER['HTTP_CLIENT_IP'];
}

if (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR']))
{
    $real_ip_adress = $_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'];
}
else
{
    $real_ip_adress = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];
}

$cip = $real_ip_adress;
$iptolocation = 'http://api.hostip.info/country.php?ip=' . $cip;
$creatorlocation = file_get_contents($iptolocation);

?>

Well, it's working properly, but the thing is, this returns the country code like US or CA., and not the whole country name like United States or Canada.

So, is there any good alternative to hostip.info offers this?

I know that I can just write some code that will eventually turn this two letters to whole country name, but I'm just too lazy to write a code that contains all countries...

P.S: For some reason I don't want to use any ready made CSV file or any code that will grab this information for me, something like ip2country ready made code and CSV.

Solution 1

Try this simple PHP function.

<?php

function ip_info($ip = NULL, $purpose = "location", $deep_detect = TRUE) {
    $output = NULL;
    if (filter_var($ip, FILTER_VALIDATE_IP) === FALSE) {
        $ip = $_SERVER["REMOTE_ADDR"];
        if ($deep_detect) {
            if (filter_var(@$_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'], FILTER_VALIDATE_IP))
                $ip = $_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'];
            if (filter_var(@$_SERVER['HTTP_CLIENT_IP'], FILTER_VALIDATE_IP))
                $ip = $_SERVER['HTTP_CLIENT_IP'];
        }
    }
    $purpose    = str_replace(array("name", "\n", "\t", " ", "-", "_"), NULL, strtolower(trim($purpose)));
    $support    = array("country", "countrycode", "state", "region", "city", "location", "address");
    $continents = array(
        "AF" => "Africa",
        "AN" => "Antarctica",
        "AS" => "Asia",
        "EU" => "Europe",
        "OC" => "Australia (Oceania)",
        "NA" => "North America",
        "SA" => "South America"
    );
    if (filter_var($ip, FILTER_VALIDATE_IP) && in_array($purpose, $support)) {
        $ipdat = @json_decode(file_get_contents("http://www.geoplugin.net/json.gp?ip=" . $ip));
        if (@strlen(trim($ipdat->geoplugin_countryCode)) == 2) {
            switch ($purpose) {
                case "location":
                    $output = array(
                        "city"           => @$ipdat->geoplugin_city,
                        "state"          => @$ipdat->geoplugin_regionName,
                        "country"        => @$ipdat->geoplugin_countryName,
                        "country_code"   => @$ipdat->geoplugin_countryCode,
                        "continent"      => @$continents[strtoupper($ipdat->geoplugin_continentCode)],
                        "continent_code" => @$ipdat->geoplugin_continentCode
                    );
                    break;
                case "address":
                    $address = array($ipdat->geoplugin_countryName);
                    if (@strlen($ipdat->geoplugin_regionName) >= 1)
                        $address[] = $ipdat->geoplugin_regionName;
                    if (@strlen($ipdat->geoplugin_city) >= 1)
                        $address[] = $ipdat->geoplugin_city;
                    $output = implode(", ", array_reverse($address));
                    break;
                case "city":
                    $output = @$ipdat->geoplugin_city;
                    break;
                case "state":
                    $output = @$ipdat->geoplugin_regionName;
                    break;
                case "region":
                    $output = @$ipdat->geoplugin_regionName;
                    break;
                case "country":
                    $output = @$ipdat->geoplugin_countryName;
                    break;
                case "countrycode":
                    $output = @$ipdat->geoplugin_countryCode;
                    break;
            }
        }
    }
    return $output;
}

?>

How to use:

Example1: Get visitor IP address details

<?php

echo ip_info("Visitor", "Country"); // India
echo ip_info("Visitor", "Country Code"); // IN
echo ip_info("Visitor", "State"); // Andhra Pradesh
echo ip_info("Visitor", "City"); // Proddatur
echo ip_info("Visitor", "Address"); // Proddatur, Andhra Pradesh, India

print_r(ip_info("Visitor", "Location")); // Array ( [city] => Proddatur [state] => Andhra Pradesh [country] => India [country_code] => IN [continent] => Asia [continent_code] => AS )

?>

Example 2: Get details of any IP address. [Support IPV4 & IPV6]

<?php

echo ip_info("173.252.110.27", "Country"); // United States
echo ip_info("173.252.110.27", "Country Code"); // US
echo ip_info("173.252.110.27", "State"); // California
echo ip_info("173.252.110.27", "City"); // Menlo Park
echo ip_info("173.252.110.27", "Address"); // Menlo Park, California, United States

print_r(ip_info("173.252.110.27", "Location")); // Array ( [city] => Menlo Park [state] => California [country] => United States [country_code] => US [continent] => North America [continent_code] => NA )

?>

Solution 2

You can use a simple API from http://www.geoplugin.net/

$xml = simplexml_load_file("http://www.geoplugin.net/xml.gp?ip=".getRealIpAddr());
echo $xml->geoplugin_countryName ;


echo "<pre>";
foreach ($xml as $key => $value)
{
    echo $key , "= " , $value ,  " \n" ;
}
echo "</pre>";

Function Used

function getRealIpAddr()
{
    if (!empty($_SERVER['HTTP_CLIENT_IP']))   //check ip from share internet
    {
      $ip=$_SERVER['HTTP_CLIENT_IP'];
    }
    elseif (!empty($_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR']))   //to check ip is pass from proxy
    {
      $ip=$_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'];
    }
    else
    {
      $ip=$_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];
    }
    return $ip;
}

Output

United States
geoplugin_city= San Antonio
geoplugin_region= TX
geoplugin_areaCode= 210
geoplugin_dmaCode= 641
geoplugin_countryCode= US
geoplugin_countryName= United States
geoplugin_continentCode= NA
geoplugin_latitude= 29.488899230957
geoplugin_longitude= -98.398696899414
geoplugin_regionCode= TX
geoplugin_regionName= Texas
geoplugin_currencyCode= USD
geoplugin_currencySymbol= $
geoplugin_currencyConverter= 1

It makes you have so many options you can play around with

Thanks

:)

Solution 3

I tried Chandra's answer but my server configuration does not allow file_get_contents()

PHP Warning: file_get_contents() URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration

I modified Chandra's code so that it also works for servers like that using cURL:

function ip_visitor_country()
{

    $client  = @$_SERVER['HTTP_CLIENT_IP'];
    $forward = @$_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'];
    $remote  = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];
    $country  = "Unknown";

    if(filter_var($client, FILTER_VALIDATE_IP))
    {
        $ip = $client;
    }
    elseif(filter_var($forward, FILTER_VALIDATE_IP))
    {
        $ip = $forward;
    }
    else
    {
        $ip = $remote;
    }
    $ch = curl_init();
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "http://www.geoplugin.net/json.gp?ip=".$ip);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, 0);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
    $ip_data_in = curl_exec($ch); // string
    curl_close($ch);

    $ip_data = json_decode($ip_data_in,true);
    $ip_data = str_replace('"', '"', $ip_data); // for PHP 5.2 see stackoverflow.com/questions/3110487/

    if($ip_data && $ip_data['geoplugin_countryName'] != null) {
        $country = $ip_data['geoplugin_countryName'];
    }

    return 'IP: '.$ip.' # Country: '.$country;
}

echo ip_visitor_country(); // output Coutry name

?>

Hope that helps ;-)

Solution 4

Use MaxMind GeoIP (or GeoIPLite if you are not ready to pay).

$gi = geoip_open('GeoIP.dat', GEOIP_MEMORY_CACHE);
$country = geoip_country_code_by_addr($gi, $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']);
geoip_close($gi);

Solution 5

You can use a web-service from http://ip-api.com
in your php code, do as follow :

<?php
$ip = $_REQUEST['REMOTE_ADDR']; // the IP address to query
$query = @unserialize(file_get_contents('http://ip-api.com/php/'.$ip));
if($query && $query['status'] == 'success') {
  echo 'Hello visitor from '.$query['country'].', '.$query['city'].'!';
} else {
  echo 'Unable to get location';
}
?>

the query have many other informations:

array (
  'status'      => 'success',
  'country'     => 'COUNTRY',
  'countryCode' => 'COUNTRY CODE',
  'region'      => 'REGION CODE',
  'regionName'  => 'REGION NAME',
  'city'        => 'CITY',
  'zip'         => ZIP CODE,
  'lat'         => LATITUDE,
  'lon'         => LONGITUDE,
  'timezone'    => 'TIME ZONE',
  'isp'         => 'ISP NAME',
  'org'         => 'ORGANIZATION NAME',
  'as'          => 'AS NUMBER / NAME',
  'query'       => 'IP ADDRESS USED FOR QUERY',
)

View more solutions

Comments

[Ezz Elkady]

Don't be lazy, there aren't that many countries, and it's not too hard to obtain a translation table for FIPS 2 letter codes to country names.

[Tchoupi]

Use Maxmind geoip feature. It will include the country name in the results. maxmind.com/app/php

[Walter Tross]

Your first assignment to $real_ip_address is always ignored. Anyways, remember that the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header can be extremely easily counterfeited, and that there are proxies like www.hidemyass.com

[ttarik]

IPLocate.io provides a free API: https://www.iplocate.io/api/lookup/8.8.8.8 - Disclaimer: I run this service.

[Laurent]

I suggest giving a try to Ipregistry: api.ipregistry.co/… (disclaimer: I run the service).

[echo_Me]

we must provide database information to work ? seems not good.

[echo_Me]

why im getting unknow all the time with every ip ? , used same code.

[Avatar]

You get "Unknown" probably because your server does not allow file_get_contents(). Just check your error_log file. Workaround: see my answer.

[Hontoni]

also it might be because u check it localy (192.168.1.1 / 127.0.0.1 / 10.0.0.1)

[Walter Tross]

Quoting from their website: "You are limited to 1,000 API requests per day. If you need to make more requests, or need SSL support, see our paid plans."

[imbondbaby]

I used it on my personal website so that is why I posted it. Thank you for the info... didn't realize it. I put much more effort on the post, so please see the updated post :)

[mOna]

I tried your code, it returns this for me: Array ( [known] => false )

[mOna]

when I try this : $ip = $_SERVER["REMOTE_ADDR"]; echo $ip; it returns it : 10.48.44.43, do you know what is the problem?? I used alspo maxmind geoip, and when I used geoip_country_name_by_addr($gi, $ip) againit returned me nothing...

[mOna]

@imbondbaby: Hi, I tried your code, but for me it returns this :Array ( [country] => - ), I do not understand the problem since when i try to print this: $ipaddress = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']; it shows me this ip : 10.48.44.43, I can't understand why this ip does not work! I mean wherever I insert this number it does not return any country!!! counld u plz help me?

[mOna]

@Joyce: I tried to use Maxmind API and DB, but I don't know why it does not work for me, actually it works in general, but for instance when I run this $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];it shows me this ip : 10.48.44.43, but when i use it in geoip_country_code_by_addr($gi, $ip), it returns nothing, any idea?

[Joyce Babu]

It is a reserved ip address (internal ip address from your local network). Try running the code on a remote server.

[mOna]

@EchtEinfachTV I can not get the country name as well, when I echo $cip, $iptolocation and $creatorlocation I get this: 10.48.44.43http://api.hostip.info/country.php?ip=10.48.44.43‌​XX , why it returns xx for country?

[mOna]

@Antonimo: I can not get the country name as well, when I echo $cip, $iptolocation and $creatorlocation I get this: 10.48.44.43http://api.hostip.info/country.php?ip=10.48.44.43‌​XX , why it returns xx for country? –

[Ram Sharma]

@mOna, it return your ip address. for more details pls, share your code.

[mOna]

I found that problem is realted to my ip since it is for private network. then I fuond my real ip in ifconfig and used it in my program. then it worked:) Now, my question is how to get real ip in case of those users similar to me? (if they use local ip).. I wrote my code here: stackoverflow.com/questions/25958564/…

[Hontoni]

anything starting with 10. is a local ip, check the manuals/wiki

[Chandra Nakka]

@echo_Me Maybe your server failed to connecting geoplugin.net API server.

[M B Parvez]

That's really cool. But while testing here are no values in the following fields "geoplugin_city, geoplugin_region, geoplugin_regionCode, geoplugin_regionName".. What is the reason? Is there any solution? Thanks in advance

[madcrazydrumma]

Keep getting 'undefined' for my country

[Chandra Nakka]

@madcrazydrumma What is your IP?

[madcrazydrumma]

@ChandraNakka 127.0.0.1 is the localhost server, my ip is currently 197.234.10.142 which should be in the Seychelles

[machineaddict]

Remember to cache the results for a defined period. Also, as a note, you should never rely on another website to get any data, the website might go down, the service could stop, etc. And if you get an increased number of visitors on your website, this service could ban you.

[Richard Tinkler]

Used ip-api.com because they also supply ISP name!

[AlexioVay]

You used an else after else which causes an error. What did you try to prevent? REMOTE_ADDR should be available all the time?

[4 Leave Cover]

Does this require user authorization just like how Geolocation did?

[Eaten by a Grue]

@Vaia - Perhaps it should be but you never know.

[AlexioVay]

Is there a case where it isnt available you know of?

[Eaten by a Grue]

@Vaia - from the PHP docs on $_SERVER: "There is no guarantee that every web server will provide any of these; servers may omit some, or provide others not listed here."

[Nick]

echo ip_info("Visitor", "Country Code"); returns NULL

[Nick]

Follow on: this is an issue when testing a site on localhost. Any way to fix for testing purposes? Uses the standard 127.0.0.1 localhost IP

[Bram Vanroy]

Please provide more actual code than just hard links.

[Roy Shoa]

I Used because they also supply the Timezone

[Sayed]

God bless you, man! I got more than what I asked for! Quick question: can I use it for prod? I mean, you're not going to put it down anytime soon, are you?

[Jonathan]

Not at all :) I'm in fact adding more regions and more polish. Glad you found this to be of help :)

[Sayed]

Very helpful, specially with the additional params, solved more than one problem for me!

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the positive feedback! I built around the most common usecases for such a tool, the goal was to eliminate having to do any additional processing after the geolocation, happy to see this paying off for users

[Vignesh Chinnaiyan]

Worked for ME. Thanks.

[reformed]

This API allows 100 (free) API calls per day.

[reformed]

This API allows 1000 (free) API calls per day.

[Accountant م]

It should be noted that HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR and HTTP_CLIENT_IP used in the deep_detect option will get you the real IP of the user if he is using a proxy server -transparent proxy offcurse - , not the IP of the proxy server which is the client how is actually tcp-connected to my website. Thanks for this great answer

[Dipanshu Mahla]

The if-else part will give you the IP address of the visitor and the next part will return the country code. Try visiting api.wipmania.com and then api.wipmania.com/[your_IP_address]

[Rick Hellewell]

According to the docs on their site: "If geoplugin.net was responding perfectly, then stopped, then you have gone over the free lookup limit of 120 requests per minute. "

[Rick Hellewell]

Note there is a limit to requests; from their site: "If geoplugin.net was responding perfectly, then stopped, then you have gone over the free lookup limit of 120 requests per minute. "

[Rick Hellewell]

Later news from the link: "As of January 2, 2019 Maxmind discontinued the original GeoLite databases that we have been using in all these examples. You can read the full announcement here: support.maxmind.com/geolite-legacy-discontinuation-notice"

[bleah1]

I can't make this work. I have copied the function and tried the first example and there is not a single echo or print on the page.

[Ryan D]

This is awesome i've been looking for something like this for a while, well done!

[Najeeb]

Worked beautifully. Thanks!

[richey]

note that this only works with the GeoIP PECL extension of PHP installed (which is by default not bundled).

[richey]

In case anyone considers this, know that this database has to be purchased.

[Pedro Lobito]

There's a free version available.

[richey]

oh… can you help me with an URL please? Wherever I looked, I always ended up at 3 payment options.

[Pedro Lobito]

You've to signup for GeoLite2, but it's free to download after. dev.maxmind.com/geoip/geoip2/geolite2 - "To receive access to download the GeoLite2 databases at no charge, sign up for a GeoLite2 account."

[Malachi]

it's now actually geoplugin.com.... which.... you probably can refer to the other example (above)

[Steve Moretz]

It uses object reference -> but the response is array change all to [''] instead.Also should get rid of all this @ suppresses.And also using curl is much better than file_get_contents.

[lucaswxp]

Database is outdated, last update 2013. There is guide on how you can create the database yourself tho, using the 4 regional registries, but I didnt test it if still works

[AndreyP]

Debian installation: sudo apt install php-geoip

[Petr Nagy]

Suppressing errors with @ was bad practice 10 years ago and is still a bad practice now.

[Ajowi]

I have not tested this but voted up for using curl as allow_url_fopen is generally disabled in most servers. It should work anyway.