HTML Geolocation API

The Geolocation API allows a web page to access the geographical location of a user’s device (with their permission). You can use it to get the latitude, longitude, altitude, and more for location-based services.

This API is available in modern browsers and is usually used with JavaScript, not just HTML.

Key Features

• Get current position of the user.

• Track real-time location changes.

• Works with GPS, Wi-Fi, or IP address depending on the device.

• Requires user permission for privacy.

Methods

1. navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(success, error)

   • Retrieves the user’s current position once.

2. navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(success, error)

   • Continuously tracks location changes.

3. navigator.geolocation.clearWatch(id)

   • Stops tracking location started by watchPosition.

Example: Get User Location

Explanation

• navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition() → Requests the current location.

• position.coords.latitude and position.coords.longitude → Get latitude and longitude.

• showError() → Handles cases when the user denies access or location is unavailable.

Key Points

• User permission is required for privacy.

• Location may not be 100% accurate on all devices.

• Can be combined with Google Maps API to show location visually.

• Works on desktop and mobile devices.

The Geolocation API is useful for:

• Location-based services (maps, weather apps)

• Finding nearby stores or services

• Tracking user location in real-time apps