Compass
Obtains the direction that the device is pointing.
Methods
- compass.getCurrentHeading
- compass.watchHeading
- compass.clearWatch
- compass.watchHeadingFilter (obsolete)
- compass.clearWatchFilter (obsolete)
Arguments
Permissions
Android
app/res/xml/config.xml
<plugin name="Compass" value="org.apache.cordova.CompassListener" />
BlackBerry WebWorks
No permissions are required.
iOS
config.xml
<plugin name="Compass" value="CDVLocation" />
Windows Phone
Properties/WPAppManifest.xml
<Capabilities>
<Capability Name="ID_CAP_SENSORS" />
</Capabilities>
Reference: Application Manifest for Windows Phone
Tizen
No permissions are required.
compass.getCurrentHeading
Get the current compass heading.
navigator.compass.getCurrentHeading(compassSuccess, compassError, compassOptions);
Description
The compass is a sensor that detects the direction or heading that the device is pointed, typically from the top of the device. It measures the heading in degrees from 0 to 359.99, where 0 is north.
The compass heading information is returned via a CompassHeading
object using the compassSuccess
callback function.
Supported Platforms
- Android
- iOS
- Tizen
- Windows Phone 7 and 8 ( if available in hardware )
- Windows 8
Quick Example
function onSuccess(heading) {
alert('Heading: ' + heading.magneticHeading);
};
function onError(error) {
alert('CompassError: ' + error.code);
};
navigator.compass.getCurrentHeading(onSuccess, onError);
Full Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Compass 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.compass.getCurrentHeading(onSuccess, onError);
}
// onSuccess: Get the current heading
//
function onSuccess(heading) {
alert('Heading: ' + heading.magneticHeading);
}
// onError: Failed to get the heading
//
function onError(compassError) {
alert('Compass Error: ' + compassError.code);
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Example</h1>
<p>getCurrentHeading</p>
</body>
</html>
compass.watchHeading
At a regular interval, get the compass heading in degrees.
var watchID = navigator.compass.watchHeading(compassSuccess, compassError, [compassOptions]);
Description
The compass is a sensor that detects the direction or heading that the device is pointed. It measures the heading in degrees from 0 to 359.99.
The compass.watchHeading
gets the device's current heading at a
regular interval. Each time the heading is retrieved, the
headingSuccess
callback function is executed. Specify the interval
in milliseconds via the frequency
parameter in the compassOptions
object.
The returned watch ID references the compass watch interval. The watch
ID can be used with compass.clearWatch
to stop watching the compass.
Supported Platforms
- Android
- iOS
- Tizen
- Windows Phone 7 and 8 (if available in hardware)
- Windows 8
Quick Example
function onSuccess(heading) {
var element = document.getElementById('heading');
element.innerHTML = 'Heading: ' + heading.magneticHeading;
};
function onError(compassError) {
alert('Compass error: ' + compassError.code);
};
var options = {
frequency: 3000
}; // Update every 3 seconds
var watchID = navigator.compass.watchHeading(onSuccess, onError, options);
Full Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Compass Example</title>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
// The watch id references the current `watchHeading`
var watchID = null;
// Wait for device API libraries to load
//
document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);
// device APIs are available
//
function onDeviceReady() {
startWatch();
}
// Start watching the compass
//
function startWatch() {
// Update compass every 3 seconds
var options = { frequency: 3000 };
watchID = navigator.compass.watchHeading(onSuccess, onError, options);
}
// Stop watching the compass
//
function stopWatch() {
if (watchID) {
navigator.compass.clearWatch(watchID);
watchID = null;
}
}
// onSuccess: Get the current heading
//
function onSuccess(heading) {
var element = document.getElementById('heading');
element.innerHTML = 'Heading: ' + heading.magneticHeading;
}
// onError: Failed to get the heading
//
function onError(compassError) {
alert('Compass error: ' + compassError.code);
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<div id="heading">Waiting for heading...</div>
<button onclick="startWatch();">Start Watching</button>
<button onclick="stopWatch();">Stop Watching</button>
</body>
</html>
iOS Quirks
In iOS compass.watchHeading
can also get the device's current
heading when it changes by a specified number of degrees. Each time
the heading changes by the specified number of degrees or more, the
headingSuccess
callback function executes. Specify the degrees of
change via the filter
parameter in the compassOptions
object.
Clear the watch as usual by passing the returned watch ID to
compass.clearWatch
. This functionality replaces the previously
separate, iOS-only watchHeadingFilter
and clearWatchFilter
functions, which were removed in version 1.6.
Only one watchHeading
can be in effect at one time in iOS. If a
watchHeading
uses a filter, calling getCurrentHeading
or
watchHeading
uses the existing filter value to specify heading
changes. Watching heading changes with a filter is more efficient than
with time intervals.
compass.clearWatch
Stop watching the compass referenced by the watch ID parameter.
navigator.compass.clearWatch(watchID);
-
watchID: The ID returned by
compass.watchHeading
.
Supported Platforms
- Android
- iOS
- Tizen
- Windows Phone 7 and 8 ( if available in hardware )
- Windows 8
Quick Example
var watchID = navigator.compass.watchHeading(onSuccess, onError, options);
// ... later on ...
navigator.compass.clearWatch(watchID);
Full Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Compass Example</title>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
// The watch id references the current `watchHeading`
var watchID = null;
// Wait for device API libraries to load
//
document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);
// device APIs are available
//
function onDeviceReady() {
startWatch();
}
// Start watching the compass
//
function startWatch() {
// Update compass every 3 seconds
var options = { frequency: 3000 };
watchID = navigator.compass.watchHeading(onSuccess, onError, options);
}
// Stop watching the compass
//
function stopWatch() {
if (watchID) {
navigator.compass.clearWatch(watchID);
watchID = null;
}
}
// onSuccess: Get the current heading
//
function onSuccess(heading) {
var element = document.getElementById('heading');
element.innerHTML = 'Heading: ' + heading.magneticHeading;
}
// onError: Failed to get the heading
//
function onError(compassError) {
alert('Compass error: ' + compassError.code);
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<div id="heading">Waiting for heading...</div>
<button onclick="startWatch();">Start Watching</button>
<button onclick="stopWatch();">Stop Watching</button>
</body>
</html>
compass.watchHeadingFilter
No longer supported as of 1.6, see compass.watchHeading
for equivalent functionality.
compass.clearWatchFilter
No longer supported as of 1.6. See compass.clearWatch
.
compassSuccess
onSuccess callback function that provides the compass heading information via a compassHeading
object.
function(heading) {
// Do something
}
Parameters
- heading: The heading information. (compassHeading)
Example
function onSuccess(heading) {
alert('Heading: ' + heading.magneticHeading);
};
compassError
onError callback function for compass functions.
Example
function(CompassError) {
// Handle the error
}
compassOptions
An optional parameter to customize the retrieval of the compass.
Options
- frequency: How often to retrieve the compass heading in milliseconds. (Number) (Default: 100)
- filter: The change in degrees required to initiate a watchHeading success callback. (Number)
Android Quirks
-
filter
is not supported.
Tizen Quirks
-
filter
is not supported.
Windows Phone 7 and 8 Quirks
-
filter
is not supported.
compassHeading
A CompassHeading
object is returned to the compassSuccess
callback function.
Properties
- magneticHeading: The heading in degrees from 0 - 359.99 at a single moment in time. (Number)
- trueHeading: The heading relative to the geographic North Pole in degrees 0 - 359.99 at a single moment in time. A negative value indicates that the true heading cannot be determined. (Number)
- headingAccuracy: The deviation in degrees between the reported heading and the true heading. (Number)
- timestamp: The time at which this heading was determined. (milliseconds)
Description
The CompassHeading
object is returned to the compassSuccess
callback function.
Android Quirks
-
trueHeading
is not supported, but reports the same value asmagneticHeading
-
headingAccuracy
is always 0 because there is no difference between themagneticHeading
andtrueHeading
.
iOS Quirks
-
trueHeading
is only returned when location services are enabled vianavigator.geolocation.watchLocation()
- For iOS 4 devices and above, heading factors in the device's current orientation, not in reference to its absolute position, for apps that supports that orientation.
CompassError
A CompassError
object is returned to the compassError
callback function when an error occurs.
Properties
- code: One of the predefined error codes listed below.
Constants
CompassError.COMPASS_INTERNAL_ERR
CompassError.COMPASS_NOT_SUPPORTED
Description
When an error occurs, the CompassError
object is passed as a
parameter to a compassError
callback function.