title: Geolocation
description: Access GPS data.
Android 4.4 | Android 5.1 | Android 6.0 | iOS 9.3 | iOS 10.0 | Windows 10 Store | Travis CI |
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cordova-plugin-geolocation
This plugin provides information about the device's location, such as
latitude and longitude.
Common sources of location information include
Global Positioning System (GPS) and location inferred from network
signals such as IP address, RFID, WiFi and Bluetooth MAC addresses,
and GSM/CDMA cell IDs. There is no guarantee that the API returns the
device's actual location.
To get a few ideas, check out the sample at the bottom of this page or go straight to the reference content.
This API is based on the
W3C Geolocation API Specification,
and only executes on devices that don't already provide an implementation.
WARNING: Collection and use of geolocation data
raises important privacy issues. Your app's privacy policy should
discuss how the app uses geolocation data, whether it is shared with
any other parties, and the level of precision of the data (for
example, coarse, fine, ZIP code level, etc.). Geolocation data is
generally considered sensitive because it can reveal user's
whereabouts and, if stored, the history of their travels.
Therefore, in addition to the app's privacy policy, you should
strongly consider providing a just-in-time notice before the app
accesses geolocation data (if the device operating system doesn't do
so already). That notice should provide the same information noted
above, as well as obtaining the user's permission (e.g., by presenting
choices for OK and No Thanks). For more information, please
see the Privacy Guide.
This plugin defines a global navigator.geolocation
object (for platforms
where it is otherwise missing).
Although the object is in the global scope, features provided by this plugin
are not available until after the deviceready
event.
document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);
function onDeviceReady() {
console.log("navigator.geolocation works well");
}
Reference
Installation
This requires cordova 5.0+ ( current stable 1.0.0 )
cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-geolocation
Older versions of cordova can still install via the deprecated id ( stale 0.3.12 )
cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.geolocation
It is also possible to install via repo url directly ( unstable )
cordova plugin add https://github.com/apache/cordova-plugin-geolocation.git
Supported Platforms
- Amazon Fire OS
- Android
- BlackBerry 10
- Firefox OS
- iOS
- Tizen
- Windows Phone 7 and 8
- Windows
Methods
- navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
- navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
- navigator.geolocation.clearWatch
Objects (Read-Only)
- Position
- PositionError
- Coordinates
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
Returns the device's current position to the geolocationSuccess
callback with a Position
object as the parameter. If there is an
error, the geolocationError
callback is passed a
PositionError
object.
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(geolocationSuccess,
[geolocationError],
[geolocationOptions]);
Parameters
-
geolocationSuccess: The callback that is passed the current position.
-
geolocationError: (Optional) The callback that executes if an error occurs.
-
geolocationOptions: (Optional) The geolocation options.
Example
var onSuccess = function(position) {
alert('Latitude: ' + position.coords.latitude + '\n' +
'Longitude: ' + position.coords.longitude + '\n' +
'Altitude: ' + position.coords.altitude + '\n' +
'Accuracy: ' + position.coords.accuracy + '\n' +
'Altitude Accuracy: ' + position.coords.altitudeAccuracy + '\n' +
'Heading: ' + position.coords.heading + '\n' +
'Speed: ' + position.coords.speed + '\n' +
'Timestamp: ' + position.timestamp + '\n');
};
function onError(error) {
alert('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(onSuccess, onError);
iOS Quirks
Since iOS 10 it's mandatory to add a NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription
entry in the info.plist.
NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription
describes the reason that the app accesses the user's location. When the system prompts the user to allow access, this string is displayed as part of the dialog box. To add this entry you can pass the variable GEOLOCATION_USAGE_DESCRIPTION
on plugin install.
Example:
cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-geolocation --variable GEOLOCATION_USAGE_DESCRIPTION="your usage message"
If you don't pass the variable, the plugin will add an empty string as value.
Android Quirks
If Geolocation service is turned off the onError
callback is invoked after timeout
interval (if specified).
If timeout
parameter is not specified then no callback is called.
navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
Returns the device's current position when a change in position is detected.
When the device retrieves a new location, the geolocationSuccess
callback executes with a Position
object as the parameter. If
there is an error, the geolocationError
callback executes with a
PositionError
object as the parameter.
var watchId = navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(geolocationSuccess,
[geolocationError],
[geolocationOptions]);
Parameters
-
geolocationSuccess: The callback that is passed the current position.
-
geolocationError: (Optional) The callback that executes if an error occurs.
-
geolocationOptions: (Optional) The geolocation options.
Returns
- String: returns a watch id that references the watch position interval. The watch id should be used with
navigator.geolocation.clearWatch
to stop watching for changes in position.
Example
function onSuccess(position) {
var element = document.getElementById('geolocation');
element.innerHTML = 'Latitude: ' + position.coords.latitude + '<br />' +
'Longitude: ' + position.coords.longitude + '<br />' +
'<hr />' + element.innerHTML;
}
function onError(error) {
alert('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
var watchID = navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(onSuccess, onError, { timeout: 30000 });
geolocationOptions
Optional parameters to customize the retrieval of the geolocation
Position
.
{ maximumAge: 3000, timeout: 5000, enableHighAccuracy: true };
Options
-
enableHighAccuracy: Provides a hint that the application needs the best possible results. By default, the device attempts to retrieve a Position
using network-based methods. Setting this property to true
tells the framework to use more accurate methods, such as satellite positioning. (Boolean)
-
timeout: The maximum length of time (milliseconds) that is allowed to pass from the call to navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
or geolocation.watchPosition
until the corresponding geolocationSuccess
callback executes. If the geolocationSuccess
callback is not invoked within this time, the geolocationError
callback is passed a PositionError.TIMEOUT
error code. (Note that when used in conjunction with geolocation.watchPosition
, the geolocationError
callback could be called on an interval every timeout
milliseconds!) (Number)
-
maximumAge: Accept a cached position whose age is no greater than the specified time in milliseconds. (Number)
Android Quirks
If Geolocation service is turned off the onError
callback is invoked after timeout
interval (if specified).
If timeout
parameter is not specified then no callback is called.
navigator.geolocation.clearWatch
Stop watching for changes to the device's location referenced by the
watchID
parameter.
navigator.geolocation.clearWatch(watchID);
Parameters
- watchID: The id of the
watchPosition
interval to clear. (String)
Example
var watchID = navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(onSuccess, onError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
navigator.geolocation.clearWatch(watchID);
Position
Contains Position
coordinates and timestamp, created by the geolocation API.
Properties
Coordinates
A Coordinates
object is attached to a Position
object that is
available to callback functions in requests for the current position.
It contains a set of properties that describe the geographic coordinates of a position.
Properties
-
latitude: Latitude in decimal degrees. (Number)
-
longitude: Longitude in decimal degrees. (Number)
-
altitude: Height of the position in meters above the ellipsoid. (Number)
-
accuracy: Accuracy level of the latitude and longitude coordinates in meters. (Number)
-
altitudeAccuracy: Accuracy level of the altitude coordinate in meters. (Number)
-
heading: Direction of travel, specified in degrees counting clockwise relative to the true north. (Number)
-
speed: Current ground speed of the device, specified in meters per second. (Number)
Amazon Fire OS Quirks
altitudeAccuracy: Not supported by Android devices, returning null
.
Android Quirks
altitudeAccuracy: Not supported by Android devices, returning null
.
PositionError
The PositionError
object is passed to the geolocationError
callback function when an error occurs with navigator.geolocation.
Properties
Constants
PositionError.PERMISSION_DENIED
- Returned when users do not allow the app to retrieve position information. This is dependent on the platform.
PositionError.POSITION_UNAVAILABLE
- Returned when the device is unable to retrieve a position. In general, this means the device is not connected to a network or can't get a satellite fix.
PositionError.TIMEOUT
- Returned when the device is unable to retrieve a position within the time specified by the
timeout
included in geolocationOptions
. When used with navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
, this error could be repeatedly passed to the geolocationError
callback every timeout
milliseconds.
Sample: Get the weather, find stores, and see photos of things nearby with Geolocation
Use this plugin to help users find things near them such as Groupon deals, houses for sale, movies playing, sports and entertainment events and more.
Here's a "cookbook" of ideas to get you started. In the snippets below, we'll show you some basic ways to add these features to your app.
Get your geolocation coordinates
function getWeatherLocation() {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
(onWeatherSuccess, onWeatherError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
Get the weather forecast
var onWeatherSuccess = function (position) {
Latitude = position.coords.latitude;
Longitude = position.coords.longitude;
getWeather(Latitude, Longitude);
}
function getWeather(latitude, longitude) {
var OpenWeatherAppKey = "Your_Key_Here";
var queryString =
'http://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?lat='
+ latitude + '&lon=' + longitude + '&appid=' + OpenWeatherAppKey + '&units=imperial';
$.getJSON(queryString, function (results) {
if (results.weather.length) {
$.getJSON(queryString, function (results) {
if (results.weather.length) {
$('#description').text(results.name);
$('#temp').text(results.main.temp);
$('#wind').text(results.wind.speed);
$('#humidity').text(results.main.humidity);
$('#visibility').text(results.weather[0].main);
var sunriseDate = new Date(results.sys.sunrise);
$('#sunrise').text(sunriseDate.toLocaleTimeString());
var sunsetDate = new Date(results.sys.sunrise);
$('#sunset').text(sunsetDate.toLocaleTimeString());
}
});
}
}).fail(function () {
console.log("error getting location");
});
}
function onWeatherError(error) {
console.log('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
Receive updated weather forecasts as you drive around
function watchWeatherPosition() {
return navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
(onWeatherWatchSuccess, onWeatherError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
var onWeatherWatchSuccess = function (position) {
var updatedLatitude = position.coords.latitude;
var updatedLongitude = position.coords.longitude;
if (updatedLatitude != Latitude && updatedLongitude != Longitude) {
Latitude = updatedLatitude;
Longitude = updatedLongitude;
getWeather(updatedLatitude, updatedLongitude);
}
}
See where you are on a map
Both Bing and Google have map services. We'll use Google's. You'll need a key but it's free if you're just trying things out.
Add a reference to the maps service.
<script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=Your_API_Key"></script>
Then, add code to use it.
var Latitude = undefined;
var Longitude = undefined;
function getMapLocation() {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
(onMapSuccess, onMapError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
var onMapSuccess = function (position) {
Latitude = position.coords.latitude;
Longitude = position.coords.longitude;
getMap(Latitude, Longitude);
}
function getMap(latitude, longitude) {
var mapOptions = {
center: new google.maps.LatLng(0, 0),
zoom: 1,
mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP
};
map = new google.maps.Map
(document.getElementById("map"), mapOptions);
var latLong = new google.maps.LatLng(latitude, longitude);
var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
position: latLong
});
marker.setMap(map);
map.setZoom(15);
map.setCenter(marker.getPosition());
}
var onMapWatchSuccess = function (position) {
var updatedLatitude = position.coords.latitude;
var updatedLongitude = position.coords.longitude;
if (updatedLatitude != Latitude && updatedLongitude != Longitude) {
Latitude = updatedLatitude;
Longitude = updatedLongitude;
getMap(updatedLatitude, updatedLongitude);
}
}
function onMapError(error) {
console.log('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
function watchMapPosition() {
return navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
(onMapWatchSuccess, onMapError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
Find stores near you
You can use the same Google key for this.
Add a reference to the places service.
<script src=
"https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=Your_API_Key&libraries=places">
</script>
Then, add code to use it.
var Map;
var Infowindow;
var Latitude = undefined;
var Longitude = undefined;
function getPlacesLocation() {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
(onPlacesSuccess, onPlacesError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
var onPlacesSuccess = function (position) {
Latitude = position.coords.latitude;
Longitude = position.coords.longitude;
getPlaces(Latitude, Longitude);
}
function getPlaces(latitude, longitude) {
var latLong = new google.maps.LatLng(latitude, longitude);
var mapOptions = {
center: new google.maps.LatLng(latitude, longitude),
zoom: 15,
mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP
};
Map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("places"), mapOptions);
Infowindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow();
var service = new google.maps.places.PlacesService(Map);
service.nearbySearch({
location: latLong,
radius: 500,
type: ['store']
}, foundStoresCallback);
}
var onPlacesWatchSuccess = function (position) {
var updatedLatitude = position.coords.latitude;
var updatedLongitude = position.coords.longitude;
if (updatedLatitude != Latitude && updatedLongitude != Longitude) {
Latitude = updatedLatitude;
Longitude = updatedLongitude;
getPlaces(updatedLatitude, updatedLongitude);
}
}
function foundStoresCallback(results, status) {
if (status === google.maps.places.PlacesServiceStatus.OK) {
for (var i = 0; i < results.length; i++) {
createMarker(results[i]);
}
}
}
function createMarker(place) {
var placeLoc = place.geometry.location;
var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
map: Map,
position: place.geometry.location
});
google.maps.event.addListener(marker, 'click', function () {
Infowindow.setContent(place.name);
Infowindow.open(Map, this);
});
}
function onPlacesError(error) {
console.log('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
function watchPlacesPosition() {
return navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
(onPlacesWatchSuccess, onPlacesError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
See pictures of things around you
Digital photos can contain geo coordinates that identify where the picture was taken.
Use Flickr API's to find pictures that folks have taken near you. Like Google services, you'll need a key, but it's free if you just want to try things out.
var Latitude = undefined;
var Longitude = undefined;
function getPicturesLocation() {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
(onPicturesSuccess, onPicturesError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
var onPicturesSuccess = function (position) {
Latitude = position.coords.latitude;
Longitude = position.coords.longitude;
getPictures(Latitude, Longitude);
}
function getPictures(latitude, longitude) {
$('#pictures').empty();
var queryString =
"https://api.flickr.com/services/rest/?method=flickr.photos.search&api_key=Your_API_Key&lat="
+ latitude + "&lon=" + longitude + "&format=json&jsoncallback=?";
$.getJSON(queryString, function (results) {
$.each(results.photos.photo, function (index, item) {
var photoURL = "http://farm" + item.farm + ".static.flickr.com/" +
item.server + "/" + item.id + "_" + item.secret + "_m.jpg";
$('#pictures').append($("<img />").attr("src", photoURL));
});
}
);
}
var onPicturesWatchSuccess = function (position) {
var updatedLatitude = position.coords.latitude;
var updatedLongitude = position.coords.longitude;
if (updatedLatitude != Latitude && updatedLongitude != Longitude) {
Latitude = updatedLatitude;
Longitude = updatedLongitude;
getPictures(updatedLatitude, updatedLongitude);
}
}
function onPicturesError(error) {
console.log('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
function watchPicturePosition() {
return navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
(onPicturesWatchSuccess, onPicturesError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}