Geolocation

The geolocation object provides access to location data based on the device's GPS sensor or inferred from network signals.

Geolocation 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.

This API is based on the W3C Geolocation API Specification, and only executes on devices that don't already provide an implementation.

Important privacy note: 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 a person's whereabouts and, if stored, the history of his or her travels. Therefore, in addition to your app's privacy policy, you should strongly consider providing a just-in-time notice prior to your app accessing 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.

Methods

Arguments

Objects (Read-Only)

Permissions

Android

app/res/xml/config.xml

<plugin name="Geolocation" value="org.apache.cordova.GeoBroker" />

app/AndroidManifest.xml

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_LOCATION_EXTRA_COMMANDS" />

BlackBerry WebWorks

www/plugins.xml

<plugin name="Geolocation" value="org.apache.cordova.geolocation.Geolocation" />

www/config.xml

<rim:permissions>
    <rim:permit>read_geolocation</rim:permit>
</rim:permissions>

iOS

config.xml

<plugin name="Geolocation" value="CDVLocation" />

Windows Phone

Properties/WPAppManifest.xml

<Capabilities>
    <Capability Name="ID_CAP_LOCATION" />
</Capabilities>

Reference: Application Manifest for Windows Phone

Tizen

No permissions are required.

geolocation.getCurrentPosition

Returns the device's current position as a Position 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.

Description

geolocation.getCurrentPosition is an asynchronous function. It 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.

Supported Platforms

Android
BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
iOS
Tizen
Windows Phone 7 and 8
Windows 8

Quick Example

// onSuccess Callback
// This method accepts a Position object, which contains the
// current GPS coordinates
//
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');
};

// onError Callback receives a PositionError object
//
function onError(error) {
    alert('code: '    + error.code    + '\n' +
          'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}

navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(onSuccess, onError);

Full Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Device Properties Example</title>

    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">

    // Wait for device API libraries to load
    //
    document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);

    // device APIs are available
    //
    function onDeviceReady() {
        navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(onSuccess, onError);
    }

    // onSuccess Geolocation
    //
    function onSuccess(position) {
        var element = document.getElementById('geolocation');
        element.innerHTML = 'Latitude: '           + position.coords.latitude              + '<br />' +
                            'Longitude: '          + position.coords.longitude             + '<br />' +
                            'Altitude: '           + position.coords.altitude              + '<br />' +
                            'Accuracy: '           + position.coords.accuracy              + '<br />' +
                            'Altitude Accuracy: '  + position.coords.altitudeAccuracy      + '<br />' +
                            'Heading: '            + position.coords.heading               + '<br />' +
                            'Speed: '              + position.coords.speed                 + '<br />' +
                            'Timestamp: '          + position.timestamp                    + '<br />';
    }

    // onError Callback receives a PositionError object
    //
    function onError(error) {
        alert('code: '    + error.code    + '\n' +
              'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
    }

    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <p id="geolocation">Finding geolocation...</p>
  </body>
</html>

geolocation.watchPosition

Watches for changes to the device's current position.

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 geolocation.clearWatch to stop watching for changes in position.

Description

geolocation.watchPosition is an asynchronous function. It 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.

Supported Platforms

Android
BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
iOS
Tizen
Windows Phone 7 and 8
Windows 8

Quick Example

// onSuccess Callback
//   This method accepts a `Position` object, which contains
//   the current GPS coordinates
//
function onSuccess(position) {
    var element = document.getElementById('geolocation');
    element.innerHTML = 'Latitude: '  + position.coords.latitude      + '<br />' +
                        'Longitude: ' + position.coords.longitude     + '<br />' +
                        '<hr />'      + element.innerHTML;
}

// onError Callback receives a PositionError object
//
function onError(error) {
    alert('code: '    + error.code    + '\n' +
          'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}

// Options: throw an error if no update is received every 30 seconds.
//
var watchID = navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(onSuccess, onError, { timeout: 30000 });

Full Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Device Properties Example</title>

    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">

    // Wait for device API libraries to load
    //
    document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);

    var watchID = null;

    // device APIs are available
    //
    function onDeviceReady() {
        // Throw an error if no update is received every 30 seconds
        var options = { timeout: 30000 };
        watchID = navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(onSuccess, onError, options);
    }

    // onSuccess Geolocation
    //
    function onSuccess(position) {
        var element = document.getElementById('geolocation');
        element.innerHTML = 'Latitude: '  + position.coords.latitude      + '<br />' +
                            'Longitude: ' + position.coords.longitude     + '<br />' +
                            '<hr />'      + element.innerHTML;
    }

        // onError Callback receives a PositionError object
        //
        function onError(error) {
            alert('code: '    + error.code    + '\n' +
                  'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
        }

    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <p id="geolocation">Watching geolocation...</p>
  </body>
</html>

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)

Description

The geolocation.clearWatch stops watching changes to the device's location by clearing the geolocation.watchPosition referenced by watchID.

Supported Platforms

Android
BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
iOS
Tizen
Windows Phone 7 and 8
Windows 8

Quick Example

// Options: watch for changes in position, and use the most
// accurate position acquisition method available.
//
var watchID = navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(onSuccess, onError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });

// ...later on...

navigator.geolocation.clearWatch(watchID);

Full Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Device Properties Example</title>

    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">

    // Wait for device API libraries to load
    //
    document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);

    var watchID = null;

    // device APIs are available
    //
    function onDeviceReady() {
        // Get the most accurate position updates available on the
        // device.
        var options = { enableHighAccuracy: true };
        watchID = navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(onSuccess, onError, options);
    }

    // onSuccess Geolocation
    //
    function onSuccess(position) {
        var element = document.getElementById('geolocation');
        element.innerHTML = 'Latitude: '  + position.coords.latitude      + '<br />' +
                            'Longitude: ' + position.coords.longitude     + '<br />' +
                            '<hr />'      + element.innerHTML;
    }

    // clear the watch that was started earlier
    //
    function clearWatch() {
        if (watchID != null) {
            navigator.geolocation.clearWatch(watchID);
            watchID = null;
        }
    }

        // onError Callback receives a PositionError object
        //
        function onError(error) {
          alert('code: '    + error.code    + '\n' +
                'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
        }

    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <p id="geolocation">Watching geolocation...</p>
        <button onclick="clearWatch();">Clear Watch</button>
  </body>
</html>

Coordinates

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)

Description

The Coordinates object is attached to the Position object that is available to callback functions in requests for the current position.

Supported Platforms

Android
BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
iOS
Tizen
Windows Phone 7 and 8
Windows 8

Quick Example

// onSuccess Callback
//
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');
};

// onError Callback
//
var onError = function() {
    alert('onError!');
};

navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(onSuccess, onError);

Full Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Geolocation Position Example</title>
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">

    // wait for device API libraries to load
    //
    document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);

    // device APIs are available
    //
    function onDeviceReady() {
        navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(onSuccess, onError);
    }

    // Display `Position` properties from the geolocation
    //
    function onSuccess(position) {
        var div = document.getElementById('myDiv');

        div.innerHTML = 'Latitude: '             + position.coords.latitude         + '<br/>' +
                        'Longitude: '            + position.coords.longitude        + '<br/>' +
                        'Altitude: '             + position.coords.altitude         + '<br/>' +
                        'Accuracy: '             + position.coords.accuracy         + '<br/>' +
                        'Altitude Accuracy: '    + position.coords.altitudeAccuracy + '<br/>' +
                        'Heading: '              + position.coords.heading          + '<br/>' +
                        'Speed: '                + position.coords.speed            + '<br/>';
    }

    // Show an alert if there is a problem getting the geolocation
    //
    function onError() {
        alert('onError!');
    }

    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div id="myDiv"></div>
  </body>
</html>

Android Quirks

altitudeAccuracy: Not supported by Android devices, returning null.

Position

Contains Position coordinates and timestamp, created by the geolocation API.

Properties

coords: A set of geographic coordinates. (Coordinates)
timestamp: Creation timestamp for coords. (Date)

Description

The Position object is created and populated by Cordova, and returned to the user through a callback function.

Supported Platforms

Android
BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
iOS
Tizen
Windows Phone 7 and 8
Windows 8

Quick Example

// onSuccess Callback
//
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');
};

// onError Callback receives a PositionError object
//
function onError(error) {
    alert('code: '    + error.code    + '\n' +
          'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}

navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(onSuccess, onError);

Full Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Device Properties Example</title>

    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">

    // Wait for device API libraries to load
    //
    document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);

    // device APIs are available
    //
    function onDeviceReady() {
        navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(onSuccess, onError);
    }

    // onSuccess Geolocation
    //
    function onSuccess(position) {
        var element = document.getElementById('geolocation');
        element.innerHTML = 'Latitude: '          + position.coords.latitude         + '<br />' +
                            'Longitude: '         + position.coords.longitude        + '<br />' +
                            'Altitude: '          + position.coords.altitude         + '<br />' +
                            'Accuracy: '          + position.coords.accuracy         + '<br />' +
                            'Altitude Accuracy: ' + position.coords.altitudeAccuracy + '<br />' +
                            'Heading: '           + position.coords.heading          + '<br />' +
                            'Speed: '             + position.coords.speed            + '<br />' +
                            'Timestamp: '         + position.timestamp               + '<br />';
    }

        // onError Callback receives a PositionError object
        //
        function onError(error) {
            alert('code: '    + error.code    + '\n' +
                  'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
        }

    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <p id="geolocation">Finding geolocation...</p>
  </body>
</html>

PositionError

A PositionError object is passed to the geolocationError callback when an error occurs.

Properties

code: One of the predefined error codes listed below.
message: Error message describing the details of the error encountered.

Constants

PositionError.PERMISSION_DENIED
PositionError.POSITION_UNAVAILABLE
PositionError.TIMEOUT

Description

The PositionError object is passed to the geolocationError callback function when an error occurs with geolocation.

`PositionError.PERMISSION_DENIED`

Returned when the user does not allow your application 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 has no network connectivity and/or cannot get a satellite fix.

`PositionError.TIMEOUT`

Returned when the device is unable to retrieve a position within the time specified in the geolocationOptions' timeout property. When used with geolocation.watchPosition, this error could be passed to the geolocationError callback every timeout milliseconds.

geolocationSuccess

The user's callback function that executes when a geolocation position becomes available (when called from geolocation.getCurrentPosition), or when the position changes (when called from geolocation.watchPosition).

function(position) {
    // Do something
}

Parameters

position: The geolocation position returned by the device. (Position)

Example

function geolocationSuccess(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');
}

geolocationError

The user's callback function that executes when there is an error for geolocation functions.

function(error) {
    // Handle the error
}

Parameters

error: The error returned by the device. (PositionError)

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 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

Android 2.x simulators do not return a geolocation result unless the enableHighAccuracy option is set to true.

Geolocation

API Reference

Guides

Android

app/res/xml/config.xml

app/AndroidManifest.xml

BlackBerry WebWorks

www/plugins.xml

www/config.xml

iOS

config.xml

Windows Phone

Properties/WPAppManifest.xml

Tizen

PositionError.PERMISSION_DENIED

PositionError.POSITION_UNAVAILABLE

PositionError.TIMEOUT

`PositionError.PERMISSION_DENIED`

`PositionError.POSITION_UNAVAILABLE`

`PositionError.TIMEOUT`