Geolocation API | Frontend Practical Guide

Overview

The Geolocation API allows a page to request the user’s current position. It is useful for nearby search, local context, and map-based features.

Browser support

Feature	Desktop				Mobile
Feature	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Safari	Chrome Android	Safari iOS
`Geolocation`	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`clearWatch` The clearWatch() method of the Geolocation interface is used to unregister location/error monitoring handlers previously installed using Geolocation.watchPosition().	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`getCurrentPosition` The getCurrentPosition() method of the Geolocation interface is used to get the current position of the device.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`secure_context_required` Secure context required	50	79	55	10	50	10
`watchPosition` The watchPosition() method of the Geolocation interface is used to register a handler function that will be called automatically each time the position of the device changes. You can also, optionally, specify an error handling callback function.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`GeolocationCoordinates` The GeolocationCoordinates interface represents the position and altitude of the device on Earth, as well as the accuracy with which these properties are calculated. The geographic position information is provided in terms of World Geodetic System coordinates (WGS84).	79	79	72	13.1	79	13.4
`accuracy` The accuracy read-only property of the GeolocationCoordinates interface is a strictly positive double representing the accuracy, with a 95% confidence level, of the GeolocationCoordinates.latitude and GeolocationCoordinates.longitude properties expressed in meters.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`altitude` The altitude read-only property of the GeolocationCoordinates interface is a double representing the altitude of the position in meters above the WGS84 ellipsoid (which defines the nominal sea level surface). This value is null if the implementation cannot provide this data.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`altitudeAccuracy` The altitudeAccuracy read-only property of the GeolocationCoordinates interface is a strictly positive double representing the accuracy, with a 95% confidence level, of the altitude expressed in meters. This value is null if the implementation doesn't support measuring altitude.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`heading` The heading read-only property of the GeolocationCoordinates interface is a double representing the direction in which the device is traveling. This value, specified in degrees, indicates how far off from heading due north the device is. 0 degrees represents true north, and the direction is determined clockwise (which means that east is 90 degrees and west…	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`latitude` The latitude read-only property of the GeolocationCoordinates interface is a double representing the latitude of the position in decimal degrees.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`longitude` The longitude read-only property of the GeolocationCoordinates interface is a number which represents the longitude of a geographical position, specified in decimal degrees. Together with a timestamp, given as Unix time in milliseconds, indicating a time of measurement, the GeolocationCoordinates object is part of the GeolocationPosition interface, which is…	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`secure_context_required` Secure context required	47	79	55	10	47	10
`speed` The speed read-only property of the GeolocationCoordinates interface is a double representing the velocity of the device in meters per second. This value is null if the implementation is not able to measure it.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`toJSON` The toJSON() method of the GeolocationCoordinates interface is a Serialization; it returns a JSON representation of the GeolocationCoordinates object.	126	126	129	18	126	18
`GeolocationPosition` The GeolocationPosition interface represents the position of the concerned device at a given time. The position, represented by a GeolocationCoordinates object, comprehends the 2D position of the device, on a spheroid representing the Earth, but also its altitude and its speed.	79	79	72	13.1	79	13.4
`coords` The coords read-only property of the GeolocationPosition interface returns a GeolocationCoordinates object representing a geographic position. It contains the location, that is longitude and latitude on the Earth, the altitude, and the speed of the object concerned, regrouped inside the returned value. It also contains accuracy information about these…	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`secure_context_required` Secure context required	47	≤18	55	10	47	10
`timestamp` The timestamp read-only property of the GeolocationPosition interface represents the date and time that the position was acquired by the device.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`toJSON` The toJSON() method of the GeolocationPosition interface is a Serialization; it returns a JSON representation of the GeolocationPosition object.	126	126	129	18	126	18
`GeolocationPositionError` The GeolocationPositionError interface represents the reason of an error occurring when using the geolocating device.	79	79	72	13.1	79	13.4
`code` The code read-only property of the GeolocationPositionError interface is an unsigned short representing the error code.	5	12	3.5	5	18	4.2
`message` The message read-only property of the GeolocationPositionError interface returns a human-readable string describing the details of the error.	5	12	3.5	5	18	4.2
`secure_context_required` Secure context required	47	≤18	55	10	47	10
`geolocation` The Navigator.geolocation read-only property returns a Geolocation object that gives Web content access to the location of the device. This allows a website or app to offer customized results based on the user's location.	5	12	3.5	5	18	≤3
`geolocation (secure context required)` Secure context required	47	79	55	10	47	10
`permission_geolocation` `geolocation` permission	43	79	46	16	43	16
Other
`html.elements.iframe.allow.geolocation`	64	79	74		64
`http.headers.Permissions-Policy.geolocation` Experimental The HTTP Permissions-Policy header geolocation directive controls whether the current document is allowed to use the Geolocation Interface.	88	88			88

1+Supported (version) Not supported ※Has note Sub-feature descriptions sourced from MDN Web Docs (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Syntax

JAVASCRIPT

navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(
  (pos) => {
    console.log('Latitude:', pos.coords.latitude);
    console.log('Longitude:', pos.coords.longitude);
  },
  (err) => console.error('Location error:', err.message),
  { enableHighAccuracy: true }
);

Use cases

Nearby results
Find nearby stores, services, or content tailored to the user’s current area.
Map convenience
Center maps or directions around the user’s current position when they explicitly request it.

Cautions

Location access is sensitive and should never be requested before the benefit is clear to the user.
Permission denial and low-accuracy results must be handled gracefully.

Overview

Browser support

Syntax

Use cases

Nearby results

Map convenience

Cautions

Accessibility

Related links