The Absolute Orientation Sensor is a fusion of accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer data that provides a device's physical orientation relative to the Earth's coordinate system. Unlike relative orientation (which drifts over time), absolute orientation uses the magnetic field to provide a stable reference to true north, making it ideal for compass applications, augmented reality, and navigation tools.

Starting with iOS 13 and modern Android versions, browsers require explicit user permission to access device motion and orientation sensors. This protects your privacy, as sensor data can potentially be used for fingerprinting. The permission prompt is triggered by your tap, and the data never leaves your device — all processing happens locally in your browser.

Accuracy depends on your device's hardware quality and calibration state. Most modern smartphones achieve heading accuracy within 5–10 degrees under good conditions. For best results, calibrate your device by moving it in a figure-8 pattern away from magnetic interference (metal objects, electronics, magnets). The accuracy indicator on this page shows real-time sensor confidence when available.

Alpha (α) — Heading: Rotation around the Z-axis (0° = north, 90° = east, 180° = south, 270° = west). This is your compass direction.
Beta (β) — Pitch: Forward/backward tilt. 0° when the device is flat, positive when the top tilts away from you.
Gamma (γ) — Roll: Left/right tilt. 0° when flat, positive when the right side tilts down.

Most desktop and laptop computers lack the magnetometer and gyroscope sensors needed for real compass functionality. On desktop, this tool enters simulation mode — you can drag with your mouse to rotate the 3D compass and explore the visualization. For the full real-time sensor experience, open this page on a smartphone or tablet with a built-in compass.

If heading accuracy is poor, try these steps: (1) Move your device in a large figure-8 pattern several times — this recalibrates the magnetometer. (2) Move away from metal objects, electronic devices, and magnetic cases. (3) Ensure your device's operating system is up to date. (4) On Android, check that "Improve accuracy" is enabled in location settings. Some devices also allow manual compass calibration in system settings.

True North is the geographic North Pole. Magnetic North is where Earth's magnetic field lines converge (currently located in northern Canada, drifting about 40 km per year). The angle between them is called magnetic declination. In most regions, the Absolute Orientation Sensor reports true north when calibrated correctly, as modern APIs combine magnetometer data with GPS and world magnetic model data for declination correction.

The DeviceOrientation API is widely supported across Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge on mobile platforms. The newer AbsoluteOrientationSensor (Generic Sensor API) is supported in Chrome 69+ on Android and Chrome 76+ on desktop. Safari on iOS uses its own implementation with webkitCompassHeading for calibrated heading data. This tool automatically detects and uses the best available API for your device.