Geodetic latitude is a measure of how far north or south a point is from the Earth's equator. It is expressed in degrees, with the equator at 0° and the poles at 90° north and south. This measurement is crucial for mapping and navigation, as it helps determine a location's position on the Earth's surface. Unlike geographic latitude, which is based on a perfect sphere, geodetic latitude accounts for the Earth's shape, which is an oblate spheroid. This means that the distance between lines of latitude varies slightly, making geodetic latitude more accurate for precise calculations in fields like geodesy and cartography.