Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs), such as the U.S. GPS, the Russian GLONASS, and the European Galileo system, provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage. Ground (or space-based) receivers collect the signals from orbiting satellites to determine their location in three dimensions and calculate precise time. These receivers detect, decode, and process both pseudorange (code) and phase transmitted by the GNSS satellites.

Since 1992, the CDDIS has supported GNSS data and product archiving for the International GNSS Service (IGS) as one of six global data centers. In this capacity, the CDDIS provides online access to the GNSS data generated by the IGS network as well as the IGS standard, working group, and pilot project products derived from these data.