Browser Geolocation Test

The browser Geolocation API is accessible via the navigator.geolocation JavaScript object, and allows websites to request the physical location of your device. The browser determines your position using a combination of sources such as GPS hardware, nearby Wi-Fi networks, cell towers. Websites can only access this data after you explicitly grant permission through the browser's permission prompt.

Accuracy depends primarily on the location sources available to your device. On smartphones (like iPhone or Android) with GPS enabled, the position can be accurate to within a few meters. On desktop computers, the browser typically relies on Wi-Fi network databases and IP-based lookups, which can result in accuracy ranging from tens of meters to several kilometers. The accuracy value shown in the test results indicates the radius, in meters, within which your true position is likely to be.

All modern browsers require your explicit permission before sharing your location with a website, and you can revoke it at any time. In Chrome and Edge, go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site settings, then Location, where you can block all requests or manage permissions per site. In Firefox, you can manage location permissions under Settings, Privacy & Security, Permissions, or disable geolocation entirely by setting geo.enabled to false in about:config. Keep in mind that even with the Geolocation API blocked, websites can still estimate your approximate location from your IP address.

Altitude, heading, and speed are optional values that are only populated when the device has hardware capable of measuring them, such as a GPS chip or motion sensors. Desktop computers and laptops almost never provide these values because they determine location from Wi-Fi connection and IP address lookup data, which contain no elevation or movement information. On mobile devices, heading and speed are typically only reported while you are actually moving.