Ever since GPS or Global Positioning System technology has been opened to civilian use in 1983, there have been several types of GPS receivers that came out in the market developed for a variety of uses. All these devices were based on GPS technology that was developed to provide more accurate positioning information for people on earth.

The GPS makes use of a constellation of medium orbit satellites that go around the earth at known positions. Each of these satellites has a unique identification code which it sends to a GPS receiver on earth that can be used to calculate the distance of a satellite to the said device. Data taken from three or more of these satellites allow the receiver to determine an accurate position relative to the location of the GPS receiver on earth.

There are different types of GPS receivers now available for civilian use. There are receivers used for aviation wherein they help provide information such as altitude and position that aid in navigation. There are simple and portable aviation GPS receivers that are available for smaller planes and there are sophisticated models that are built into larger aircraft that may be used to handle automated landing procedures.

There are also GPS receivers that are being used to aid marine navigation. These types of receivers usually also are equipped with a database of stored charts that is used in conjunction with the GPS device to allow for more accurate as well as safer navigation in the high seas. These GPS receivers also have interfaces that allow them to be connected to other ship electronics.

There are also a number of GPS receivers available that are used to map out certain areas for later inclusion into databases and in the creation of newer maps and drawings. These types of GPS receivers usually have features that enable them to store points as well as add text information in those different points. 

There is also another set of GPS receivers that are used in surveying to get measurements rather than position. These GPS surveying receivers usually do this by making use of two receivers and measuring the relative distance between them. Other useful features also come with such receivers but giving measurements of the highest accuracies is their main purpose. There are also GPS receivers that are intended to check for accurate time. These receivers act as timing units most especially to synchronize digital telecommunications networks for increased reliability.

There are also handheld GPS receivers that are used for different purposes such as land sea or air navigation, helping golfers map out a certain golf course, and can even be used for industrial mapping. Some types of GPS receivers come in the form of computer board that is attached to a certain device to provide a wide range of uses.