Window: deviceorientation event

Baseline 2023

Newly available

Since September 2023, this feature works across the latest devices and browser versions. This feature might not work in older devices or browsers.

Secure context: This feature is available only in secure contexts (HTTPS), in some or all supporting browsers.

The deviceorientation event is fired when fresh data is available from an orientation sensor about the current orientation of the device as compared to the Earth coordinate frame. This data is gathered from a magnetometer inside the device.

See Orientation and motion data explained for details.

This event is not cancelable and does not bubble.

Syntax

Use the event name in methods like addEventListener(), or set an event handler property.

addEventListener("deviceorientation", (event) => { })

ondeviceorientation = (event) => { }

Event type

A DeviceOrientationEvent. Inherits from Event.

Event properties

DeviceOrientationEvent.absolute Read only: A boolean that indicates whether the device is providing orientation data absolutely.
DeviceOrientationEvent.alpha Read only: A number representing the motion of the device around the z axis, express in degrees with values ranging from 0 (inclusive) to 360 (exclusive).
DeviceOrientationEvent.beta Read only: A number representing the motion of the device around the x axis, expressed in degrees with values ranging from -180 (inclusive) to 180 (exclusive). This represents the front to back motion of the device.
DeviceOrientationEvent.gamma Read only: A number representing the motion of the device around the y axis, expressed in degrees with values ranging from -90 (inclusive) to 90 (exclusive). This represents the left to right motion of the device.
DeviceOrientationEvent.webkitCompassHeading Non-standard Read only: A number represents the difference between the motion of the device around the z axis of the world system and the direction of the north, expressed in degrees with values ranging from 0 to 360.
DeviceOrientationEvent.webkitCompassAccuracy Non-standard Read only: The accuracy of the compass given as a positive or negative deviation. It's usually 10.

Examples

if (window.DeviceOrientationEvent) {
  window.addEventListener(
    "deviceorientation",
    (event) => {
      const rotateDegrees = event.alpha; // alpha: rotation around z-axis
      const leftToRight = event.gamma; // gamma: left to right
      const frontToBack = event.beta; // beta: front back motion

      handleOrientationEvent(frontToBack, leftToRight, rotateDegrees);
    },
    true,
  );
}

const handleOrientationEvent = (frontToBack, leftToRight, rotateDegrees) => {
  // do something amazing
};

Specifications

Specification
Device Orientation and Motion # deviceorientation
Device Orientation and Motion # ref-for-dom-window-ondeviceorientation