# Geocode

> [!IMPORTANT]
> **Important:** We highly recommend that you use a `<polygon>` element to describe the `<area>` entity in your CAP alert.

If you only use a `<geocode>` element in your CAP alerts, then to parse your
alert, Google needs additional information about geocode and shapefile maps.
Send this data to Google in Esri shapefile format for pre-processing.

For example, NOAA uses the Universal Geographic Code (UGC) in their
[AWIPS Basemap Shapefiles database](https://developers.google.com/public-alerts/guides/additional-guidelines/%22https:/www.weather.gov/gis/AWIPSShapefiles%22).

> [!IMPORTANT]
> **Important:** Send Google your updated geocode files each time there's an update, so Public Alerts can parse your alerts correctly.