Get User Location Using CLLocationManager

1 - Include the CoreLocation.framework in your project; this is accomplished by clicking on:

root directory -> build phases -> Link Binary With Libraries

Click on the (+) button, look for CoreLocation.framework and click add.

2- Modify the info.plist file to ask for permission to use user location by opening it as source code. Add either of the following key:value pair under the tag to ask for usage of user’s location while the application is in use:

<key>NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription</key>
<string>message to display when asking for permission</string>

3- import CoreLocation to the ViewController that will be using it.

import CoreLocation

4- Make sure your ViewController conforms to the CLLocationManagerDelagate protocol

class ViewController: UIViewController,CLLocationManagerDelegate {}

After these steps, we can create a CLLocationManager object as instance variable and use it in the ViewController.

var manager:CLLocationManager!

We do not use ‘let’ here because we will modify the manager to specify its delegate, minimum distance before update event, and its accuracy

//initialize the manager
manager = CLLocationManager()

//specify delegate
manager.delegate = self

//set the minimum distance the phone needs to move before an update event is triggered (for example:  100 meters)
manager.distanceFilter = 100

//set Accuracy to any of the following depending on your use case

//let kCLLocationAccuracyBestForNavigation: CLLocationAccuracy
//let kCLLocationAccuracyBest: CLLocationAccuracy
//let kCLLocationAccuracyNearestTenMeters: CLLocationAccuracy
//let kCLLocationAccuracyHundredMeters: CLLocationAccuracy
//let kCLLocationAccuracyKilometer: CLLocationAccuracy
//let kCLLocationAccuracyThreeKilometers: CLLocationAccuracy

manager.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyBest

//ask the user for permission
manager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()

//Start collecting location information
if #available(iOS 9.0, *) {
            
   manager.requestLocation()
            
 } else {
  
   manager.startUpdatingLocation()
  
  }

Now to get access to the location updates, we can implement the function below which is called overtime the distanceFilter is reached.

func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {}

The locations parameter is an array of CLLocation objects that represent the actual location of the device.From these objects, one can get access to the following attributes: coordinate,altitude, floor, horizontalAccuracy, verticalAccuracy, timestamp, description, course, speed, and a function distance(from:) that measures the distance between two locations.

Note: While requesting permission for location, there are two different types of authorization.

“When In Use” authorization only gives the app permission to receive your location when the app is in use or foreground.

“Always” authorization, gives the app background > permissions which may lead to decrease battery life in case your app is closed.

Plist file should be adjusted as necessary.