The localization of sensing nodes is most pronounced in the application of wireless sensor networks. To address this issue, a node localization algorithm called the DMA is proposed in this paper. This algorithm identifies the node position by using the estimation matrix and distance matrix together with the optimized linear transforming function. With the integration of GA, the position of the node can be accurately determined. The conducted simulation outcomes and the corresponding analysis verify the high accuracy and low energy consumption of the proposed algorithm, which can outperform other widely used approaches. This study designs and deploys the proposed algorithm and shows its sensor node localization theory, which makes it a promising basis for the realization of positioning in WSNs.Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.