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.
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");
}
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
// 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);
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
// 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 });
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 totrue
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
orgeolocation.watchPosition
until the correspondinggeolocationSuccess
callback executes. If thegeolocationSuccess
callback is not invoked within this time, thegeolocationError
callback is passed aPositionError.TIMEOUT
error code. (Note that when used in conjunction withgeolocation.watchPosition
, thegeolocationError
callback could be called on an interval everytimeout
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
// 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);
Position
Contains Position
coordinates and timestamp, created by the geolocation API.
Properties
coords: A set of geographic coordinates. (Coordinates)
timestamp: Creation timestamp for
coords
. (DOMTimeStamp)
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
code: One of the predefined error codes listed below.
message: Error message describing the details of the error encountered.
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 ingeolocationOptions
. When used withnavigator.geolocation.watchPosition
, this error could be repeatedly passed to thegeolocationError
callback everytimeout
milliseconds.
- Returned when the device is unable to retrieve a position within the time specified by the
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 coordinates.
- Get the weather forecast.
- Receive updated weather forecasts as you drive around.
- See where you are on a map.
- Find stores near you.
- See pictures of things around you.
Get your geolocation coordinates
function getWeatherLocation() {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
(onWeatherSuccess, onWeatherError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
Get the weather forecast
// Success callback for get geo coordinates
var onWeatherSuccess = function (position) {
Latitude = position.coords.latitude;
Longitude = position.coords.longitude;
getWeather(Latitude, Longitude);
}
// Get weather by using coordinates
function getWeather(latitude, longitude) {
// Get a free key at http://openweathermap.org/. Replace the "Your_Key_Here" string with that key.
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");
});
}
// Error callback
function onWeatherError(error) {
console.log('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
Receive updated weather forecasts as you drive around
// Watch your changing position
function watchWeatherPosition() {
return navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
(onWeatherWatchSuccess, onWeatherError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
// Success callback for watching your changing position
var onWeatherWatchSuccess = function (position) {
var updatedLatitude = position.coords.latitude;
var updatedLongitude = position.coords.longitude;
if (updatedLatitude != Latitude && updatedLongitude != Longitude) {
Latitude = updatedLatitude;
Longitude = updatedLongitude;
// Calls function we defined earlier.
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;
// Get geo coordinates
function getMapLocation() {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
(onMapSuccess, onMapError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
// Success callback for get geo coordinates
var onMapSuccess = function (position) {
Latitude = position.coords.latitude;
Longitude = position.coords.longitude;
getMap(Latitude, Longitude);
}
// Get map by using coordinates
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());
}
// Success callback for watching your changing position
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);
}
}
// Error callback
function onMapError(error) {
console.log('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
// Watch your changing position
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;
// Get geo coordinates
function getPlacesLocation() {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
(onPlacesSuccess, onPlacesError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
// Success callback for get geo coordinates
var onPlacesSuccess = function (position) {
Latitude = position.coords.latitude;
Longitude = position.coords.longitude;
getPlaces(Latitude, Longitude);
}
// Get places by using coordinates
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);
}
// Success callback for watching your changing position
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);
}
}
// Success callback for locating stores in the area
function foundStoresCallback(results, status) {
if (status === google.maps.places.PlacesServiceStatus.OK) {
for (var i = 0; i < results.length; i++) {
createMarker(results[i]);
}
}
}
// Place a pin for each store on the map
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);
});
}
// Error callback
function onPlacesError(error) {
console.log('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
// Watch your changing position
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;
// Get geo coordinates
function getPicturesLocation() {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition
(onPicturesSuccess, onPicturesError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}
// Success callback for get geo coordinates
var onPicturesSuccess = function (position) {
Latitude = position.coords.latitude;
Longitude = position.coords.longitude;
getPictures(Latitude, Longitude);
}
// Get pictures by using coordinates
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));
});
}
);
}
// Success callback for watching your changing position
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);
}
}
// Error callback
function onPicturesError(error) {
console.log('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}
// Watch your changing position
function watchPicturePosition() {
return navigator.geolocation.watchPosition
(onPicturesWatchSuccess, onPicturesError, { enableHighAccuracy: true });
}