---
title: "How to center map based on visitor's location | JavaScript maps SDK"
description: "This tutorial shows how to center map based on the visitor's location using the MapTiler Geolocation API."
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at [/llms.txt](https://docs.maptiler.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any URL.

# How to center map based on visitor’s location

This tutorial demonstrates the utilization of the `geolocate: maptilersdk.GeolocationType.POINT` option to automatically center the map according to the user’s location, making use of the [MapTiler Geolocation API](https://docs.maptiler.com/cloud/api/geolocation/).

By employing this feature, it becomes effortless to determine What is your location? (based on the IP address).

## NPM module setup

1.  Install the npm package.
    
    ```bash
    npm install --save @maptiler/sdk
    ```
    
2.  Include the CSS file.
    
    If you have a bundler that can handle CSS, you can `import` the CSS
    
    ```js
    import "@maptiler/sdk/dist/maptiler-sdk.css";
    ```
    
    or include it with a `<link />` in the head of the document via the CDN
    
    ```html
    <link href='https://cdn.maptiler.com/maptiler-sdk-js/v4.2.0/maptiler-sdk.css' rel='stylesheet' />
    ```
    
3.  Include the following code in your JavaScript file (Example: app.js).
    
    ```js
    import * as maptilersdk from '@maptiler/sdk';
    
     maptilersdk.config.apiKey = 'YOUR_MAPTILER_API_KEY_HERE';
     const map = new maptilersdk.Map({
       container: 'map', // container's id or the HTML element to render the map
       style: maptilersdk.MapStyle.STREETS,
          
       center: [16.62662018, 49.2125578], // starting position [lng, lat]
       zoom: 10, // starting zoom
          
     });
    ```
    
4.  Replace `YOUR_MAPTILER_API_KEY_HERE` with [your own API key](https://cloud.maptiler.com/account/keys/). Make sure to [secure the key](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/credentials/api-key/#secure-key) before you publish it.
    
5.  The next is up to you. You can center your map wherever you desire (modifying the `starting position`) and set an appropriate zoom level (modifying the `starting zoom`) to match your users’ needs. Additionally, you can change the map’s look (by updating the `source URL`); choose from a range of visually appealing map styles from our extensive [MapTiler standard maps](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/), or create your own to truly differentiate your application.
    
6.  Modify the map options. Remove the center and zoom options and add the geolocate option.
    
    ```diff
    const map = new maptilersdk.Map({
       container: 'map', // container's id or the HTML element in which SDK will render the map
       style: maptilersdk.MapStyle.STREETS,
     - center: [16.62662018, 49.2125578], // starting position [lng, lat]
     - zoom: 10, // starting zoom
     + geolocate: maptilersdk.GeolocationType.POINT
     });
    ```
    
7.  Now the map options should look like this.
    
    ```js
    const map = new maptilersdk.Map({
       container: 'map', // container's id or the HTML element in which SDK will render the map
       style: maptilersdk.MapStyle.STREETS,
       geolocate: maptilersdk.GeolocationType.POINT
     });
    ```
    

## Basic JavaScript setup

1.  Copy the following code, paste it into your favorite text editor, and save it as a `.html` file.
    
    ```html
    <!DOCTYPE html>
     <html lang="en">
     <head>
       <meta charset="UTF-8">
       <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
       <title>Center map based on visitor's location</title>
       <script src="https://cdn.maptiler.com/maptiler-sdk-js/v4.2.0/maptiler-sdk.umd.min.js"></script>
       <link href="https://cdn.maptiler.com/maptiler-sdk-js/v4.2.0/maptiler-sdk.css" rel="stylesheet" />
       <style>
         body { margin: 0; padding: 0; }
         #map { position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 100%; }
       </style>
     </head>
     <body>
       <div id="map"></div>
       <script>
           maptilersdk.config.apiKey = 'YOUR_MAPTILER_API_KEY_HERE';      
           const map = new maptilersdk.Map({
             container: 'map', // container's id or the HTML element to render the map
             style: maptilersdk.MapStyle.STREETS,
                
             center: [16.62662018, 49.2125578], // starting position [lng, lat]
             zoom: 10, // starting zoom
                
           });
       </script>
     </body>
     </html>
    ```
    
2.  Replace `YOUR_MAPTILER_API_KEY_HERE` with [your own API key](https://cloud.maptiler.com/account/keys/). Make sure to [secure the key](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/credentials/api-key/#secure-key) before you publish it.
    
3.  The next is up to you. You can center your map wherever you desire (modifying the `starting position`) and set an appropriate zoom level (modifying the `starting zoom`) to match your users’ needs. Additionally, you can change the map’s look (by updating the `source URL`); choose from a range of visually appealing map styles from our extensive [MapTiler standard maps](https://cloud.maptiler.com/maps/), or create your own to truly differentiate your application.
    
4.  Modify the map options. Remove the center and zoom options and add the geolocate option.
    
    ```diff
    const map = new maptilersdk.Map({
       container: 'map', // container's id or the HTML element in which SDK will render the map
       style: maptilersdk.MapStyle.STREETS,
     - center: [16.62662018, 49.2125578], // starting position [lng, lat]
     - zoom: 10, // starting zoom
     + geolocate: maptilersdk.GeolocationType.POINT
     });
    ```
    
5.  Now the map options should look like this.
    
    ```js
    const map = new maptilersdk.Map({
       container: 'map', // container's id or the HTML element in which SDK will render the map
       style: maptilersdk.MapStyle.STREETS,
       geolocate: maptilersdk.GeolocationType.POINT
     });
    ```
    

### Complete source code

```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8" />
  <title>Center map based on visitor's location</title>
  <meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1,maximum-scale=1,user-scalable=no" />
  <script src="https://cdn.maptiler.com/maptiler-sdk-js/v4.2.0/maptiler-sdk.umd.min.js"></script>
  <link href="https://cdn.maptiler.com/maptiler-sdk-js/v4.2.0/maptiler-sdk.css" rel="stylesheet" />
  <style>
    body { 
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
    }

    #map {
      position: absolute;
      top: 0;
      bottom: 0;
      width: 100%;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <div id="map"></div>
  <script>
    maptilersdk.config.apiKey = 'YOUR_MAPTILER_API_KEY_HERE';
    const map = new maptilersdk.Map({
      container: 'map', // container's id or the HTML element to render the map
      style: maptilersdk.MapStyle.STREETS,
      geolocate: maptilersdk.GeolocationType.POINT
    });
  </script>
</body>
</html>
```

## Learn more

The map view can also be adjusted to the visitor’s country bounds. To do this, follow the [How to center map based on visitor’s country bounds](../ip-country-map/) tutorial.

Check out the tutorials [How to display disputed borders based on visitor’s location](../ip-disputed-borders/), [How to change the map labels language based on visitor’s location](../ip-map-language/) and [How to display the cookies consent bar according to the visitor’s location](../ip-cookie-bar/).

Visit the [MapTiler Geolocation API](https://docs.maptiler.com/cloud/api/geolocation/) reference for Geolocation response object properties. Like for example, the name of the country, the city, etc.

## Related examples

### [Geolocate control (GPS)](https://docs.maptiler.com/sdk-js/examples/geolocate-control/)

Tutorials

Enable GPS location tracking using the geolocate map control.

### [Disputed borders by IP](https://docs.maptiler.com/sdk-js/examples/ip-disputed-borders/)

Tutorials

This tutorial shows how to automatically change disputed borders according to your map visitor's location usign the MapTiler Geolocation API.

### [Map language by IP](https://docs.maptiler.com/sdk-js/examples/ip-map-language/)

Tutorials

This tutorial shows how to automatically change the map labels language based on visitor's location usign the MapTiler Geolocation API.

### [Center map by visitor’s country IP](https://docs.maptiler.com/sdk-js/examples/ip-country-map/)

Tutorials

This tutorial shows how to center map based on the visitor’s country bounds using the MapTiler Geolocation API.