Geolocation API

Status: public · Confidence: medium (0.865) · Basis: verified_sources

## TL;DR

The Geolocation API lets web applications request location information for the hosting device. This article keeps to the W3C specification and MDN documentation: access starts at `navigator.geolocation`, requires user permission in secure contexts, and supports current-position and watched-position requests.

## Core Explanation

Geolocation is deliberately permission-gated because location data can identify where a person or device is. The API exposes coordinates and related accuracy fields through position objects, while leaving the underlying location source to the browser and device.

## Further Reading

- [Geolocation](https://www.w3.org/TR/geolocation/)
- [Geolocation API - Web APIs | MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Geolocation_API)
- [Navigator: geolocation property - Web APIs | MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Navigator/geolocation)