Camera

new Cesium.Camera(scene)
Scene/Camera.js 88

The camera is defined by a position, orientation, and view frustum.

The orientation forms an orthonormal basis with a view, up and right = view x up unit vectors.

The viewing frustum is defined by 6 planes. Each plane is represented by a Cartesian4 object, where the x, y, and z components define the unit vector normal to the plane, and the w component is the distance of the plane from the origin/camera position.
Name Type Description
scene Scene The scene.
Example:
// Create a camera looking down the negative z-axis, positioned at the origin,
// with a field of view of 60 degrees, and 1:1 aspect ratio.
var camera = new Cesium.Camera(scene);
camera.position = new Cesium.Cartesian3();
camera.direction = Cesium.Cartesian3.negate(Cesium.Cartesian3.UNIT_Z, new Cesium.Cartesian3());
camera.up = Cesium.Cartesian3.clone(Cesium.Cartesian3.UNIT_Y);
camera.frustum.fov = Cesium.Math.PI_OVER_THREE;
camera.frustum.near = 1.0;
camera.frustum.far = 2.0;
Demo:

Members

staticCesium.Camera.DEFAULT_VIEW_FACTOR : Number
Scene/Camera.js 251

A scalar to multiply to the camera position and add it back after setting the camera to view the rectangle. A value of zero means the camera will view the entire Camera#DEFAULT_VIEW_RECTANGLE, a value greater than zero will move it further away from the extent, and a value less than zero will move it close to the extent.

staticCesium.Camera.DEFAULT_VIEW_RECTANGLE : Rectangle
Scene/Camera.js 243

The default rectangle the camera will view on creation.

constrainedAxis : Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 186

If set, the camera will not be able to rotate past this axis in either direction.
Default Value: undefined

defaultLookAmount : Number
Scene/Camera.js 166

The default amount to rotate the camera when an argument is not provided to the look methods.
Default Value: Math.PI / 60.0

defaultMoveAmount : Number
Scene/Camera.js 159

The default amount to move the camera when an argument is not provided to the move methods.
Default Value: 100000.0;

defaultRotateAmount : Number
Scene/Camera.js 173

The default amount to rotate the camera when an argument is not provided to the rotate methods.
Default Value: Math.PI / 3600.0

defaultZoomAmount : Number
Scene/Camera.js 180

The default amount to move the camera when an argument is not provided to the zoom methods.
Default Value: 100000.0;

direction : Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 117

The view direction of the camera.

readonlydirectionWC : Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 654

Gets the view direction of the camera in world coordinates.

frustum : Frustum
Scene/Camera.js 149

The region of space in view.
Default Value: PerspectiveFrustum()
See:

readonlyheading : Number
Scene/Camera.js 696

Gets the camera heading in radians.

readonlyinverseTransform : Matrix4
Scene/Camera.js 578

Gets the inverse camera transform.
Default Value: Matrix4.IDENTITY

readonlyinverseViewMatrix : Matrix4
Scene/Camera.js 610

Gets the inverse view matrix.
See:

maximumTranslateFactor : Number
Scene/Camera.js 193

The factor multiplied by the the map size used to determine where to clamp the camera position when translating across the surface. The default is 1.5. Only valid for 2D and Columbus view.
Default Value: 1.5

maximumZoomFactor : Number
Scene/Camera.js 200

The factor multiplied by the the map size used to determine where to clamp the camera position when zooming out from the surface. The default is 2.5. Only valid for 2D.
Default Value: 2.5

readonlymoveEnd : Event
Scene/Camera.js 788

Gets the event that will be raised at when the camera has stopped moving.

readonlymoveStart : Event
Scene/Camera.js 776

Gets the event that will be raised at when the camera starts to move.

readonlypitch : Number
Scene/Camera.js 723

Gets the camera pitch in radians.

position : Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 107

The position of the camera.

positionCartographic : Cartographic
Scene/Camera.js 626

Gets the Cartographic position of the camera, with longitude and latitude expressed in radians and height in meters. In 2D and Columbus View, it is possible for the returned longitude and latitude to be outside the range of valid longitudes and latitudes when the camera is outside the map.

readonlypositionWC : Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 640

Gets the position of the camera in world coordinates.
The right direction of the camera.

readonlyrightWC : Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 682

Gets the right direction of the camera in world coordinates.

readonlyroll : Number
Scene/Camera.js 750

Gets the camera roll in radians.

readonlytransform : Matrix4
Scene/Camera.js 563

Gets the camera's reference frame. The inverse of this transformation is appended to the view matrix.
Default Value: Matrix4.IDENTITY

up : Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 126

The up direction of the camera.

readonlyupWC : Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 668

Gets the up direction of the camera in world coordinates.

readonlyviewMatrix : Matrix4
Scene/Camera.js 594

Gets the view matrix.
See:

Methods

cameraToWorldCoordinates(cartesian, result) → Cartesian4
Scene/Camera.js 1190

Transform a vector or point from the camera's reference frame to world coordinates.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian4 The vector or point to transform.
result Cartesian4 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed vector or point.

cameraToWorldCoordinatesPoint(cartesian, result) → Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 1211

Transform a point from the camera's reference frame to world coordinates.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian3 The point to transform.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed point.

cameraToWorldCoordinatesVector(cartesian, result) → Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 1232

Transform a vector from the camera's reference frame to world coordinates.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian3 The vector to transform.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed vector.

computeViewRectangle(ellipsoid, result) → Rectangle|undefined
Scene/Camera.js 2779

Computes the approximate visible rectangle on the ellipsoid.
Name Type Default Description
ellipsoid Ellipsoid Ellipsoid.WGS84 optional The ellipsoid that you want to know the visible region.
result Rectangle optional The rectangle in which to store the result
Returns:
The visible rectangle or undefined if the ellipsoid isn't visible at all.

distanceToBoundingSphere(boundingSphere) → Number
Scene/Camera.js 2265

Return the distance from the camera to the front of the bounding sphere.
Name Type Description
boundingSphere BoundingSphere The bounding sphere in world coordinates.
Returns:
The distance to the bounding sphere.

flyHome(duration)
Scene/Camera.js 1076

Fly the camera to the home view. Use Camera#.DEFAULT_VIEW_RECTANGLE to set the default view for the 3D scene. The home view for 2D and columbus view shows the entire map.
Name Type Description
duration Number optional The number of seconds to complete the camera flight to home. See Camera#flyTo

flyTo(options)
Scene/Camera.js 2461

Flies the camera from its current position to a new position.
Name Type Description
options Object Object with the following properties:
Name Type Description
destination Cartesian3 | Rectangle The final position of the camera in WGS84 (world) coordinates or a rectangle that would be visible from a top-down view.
orientation Object optional An object that contains either direction and up properties or heading, pith and roll properties. By default, the direction will point towards the center of the frame in 3D and in the negative z direction in Columbus view or 2D. The up direction will point towards local north in 3D and in the positive y direction in Columbus view or 2D.
duration Number optional The duration of the flight in seconds. If omitted, Cesium attempts to calculate an ideal duration based on the distance to be traveled by the flight.
complete Camera~FlightCompleteCallback optional The function to execute when the flight is complete.
cancel Camera~FlightCancelledCallback optional The function to execute if the flight is cancelled.
endTransform Matrix4 optional Transform matrix representing the reference frame the camera will be in when the flight is completed.
maximumHeight Number optional The maximum height at the peak of the flight.
easingFunction EasingFunction | EasingFunction~Callback optional Controls how the time is interpolated over the duration of the flight.
Throws:
  • DeveloperError : If either direction or up is given, then both are required.
Example:
// 1. Fly to a position with a top-down view
viewer.camera.flyTo({
    destination : Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-117.16, 32.71, 15000.0)
});

// 2. Fly to a Rectangle with a top-down view
viewer.camera.flyTo({
    destination : Cesium.Rectangle.fromDegrees(west, south, east, north)
});

// 3. Fly to a position with an orientation using unit vectors.
viewer.camera.flyTo({
    destination : Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-122.19, 46.25, 5000.0),
    orientation : {
        direction : new Cesium.Cartesian3(-0.04231243104240401, -0.20123236049443421, -0.97862924300734),
        up : new Cesium.Cartesian3(-0.47934589305293746, -0.8553216253114552, 0.1966022179118339)
    }
});

// 4. Fly to a position with an orientation using heading, pitch and roll.
viewer.camera.flyTo({
    destination : Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-122.19, 46.25, 5000.0),
    orientation : {
        heading : Cesium.Math.toRadians(175.0),
        pitch : Cesium.Math.toRadians(-35.0),
        roll : 0.0
    }
});

flyToBoundingSphere(boundingSphere, options)
Scene/Camera.js 2649

Flies the camera to a location where the current view contains the provided bounding sphere.

The offset is heading/pitch/range in the local east-north-up reference frame centered at the center of the bounding sphere. The heading and the pitch angles are defined in the local east-north-up reference frame. The heading is the angle from y axis and increasing towards the x axis. Pitch is the rotation from the xy-plane. Positive pitch angles are below the plane. Negative pitch angles are above the plane. The range is the distance from the center. If the range is zero, a range will be computed such that the whole bounding sphere is visible.

In 2D and Columbus View, there must be a top down view. The camera will be placed above the target looking down. The height above the target will be the range. The heading will be aligned to local north.

Name Type Description
boundingSphere BoundingSphere The bounding sphere to view, in world coordinates.
options Object optional Object with the following properties:
Name Type Description
duration Number optional The duration of the flight in seconds. If omitted, Cesium attempts to calculate an ideal duration based on the distance to be traveled by the flight.
offset HeadingPitchRange optional The offset from the target in the local east-north-up reference frame centered at the target.
complete Camera~FlightCompleteCallback optional The function to execute when the flight is complete.
cancel Camera~FlightCancelledCallback optional The function to execute if the flight is cancelled.
endTransform Matrix4 optional Transform matrix representing the reference frame the camera will be in when the flight is completed.
maximumHeight Number optional The maximum height at the peak of the flight.
easingFunction EasingFunction | EasingFunction~Callback optional Controls how the time is interpolated over the duration of the flight.

getMagnitude() → Number
Scene/Camera.js 1678

Gets the magnitude of the camera position. In 3D, this is the vector magnitude. In 2D and Columbus view, this is the distance to the map.
Returns:
The magnitude of the position.

getPickRay(windowPosition, result) → Ray
Scene/Camera.js 2237

Create a ray from the camera position through the pixel at windowPosition in world coordinates.
Name Type Description
windowPosition Cartesian2 The x and y coordinates of a pixel.
result Ray optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
Returns the Cartesian3 position and direction of the ray.

getPixelSize(boundingSphere, drawingBufferWidth, drawingBufferHeight) → Number
Scene/Camera.js 2287

Return the pixel size in meters.
Name Type Description
boundingSphere BoundingSphere The bounding sphere in world coordinates.
drawingBufferWidth Number The drawing buffer width.
drawingBufferHeight Number The drawing buffer height.
Returns:
The pixel size in meters.

getRectangleCameraCoordinates(rectangle, result) → Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 2073

Get the camera position needed to view an rectangle on an ellipsoid or map
Name Type Description
rectangle Rectangle The rectangle to view.
result Cartesian3 optional The camera position needed to view the rectangle
Returns:
The camera position needed to view the rectangle

look(axis, angle)
Scene/Camera.js 1434

Rotate each of the camera's orientation vectors around axis by angle
Name Type Description
axis Cartesian3 The axis to rotate around.
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:

lookAt(target, offset)
Scene/Camera.js 1719

Sets the camera position and orientation using a target and offset. The target must be given in world coordinates. The offset can be either a cartesian or heading/pitch/range in the local east-north-up reference frame centered at the target. If the offset is a cartesian, then it is an offset from the center of the reference frame defined by the transformation matrix. If the offset is heading/pitch/range, then the heading and the pitch angles are defined in the reference frame defined by the transformation matrix. The heading is the angle from y axis and increasing towards the x axis. Pitch is the rotation from the xy-plane. Positive pitch angles are below the plane. Negative pitch angles are above the plane. The range is the distance from the center. In 2D, there must be a top down view. The camera will be placed above the target looking down. The height above the target will be the magnitude of the offset. The heading will be determined from the offset. If the heading cannot be determined from the offset, the heading will be north.
Name Type Description
target Cartesian3 The target position in world coordinates.
offset Cartesian3 | HeadingPitchRange The offset from the target in the local east-north-up reference frame centered at the target.
Throws:
Example:
// 1. Using a cartesian offset
var center = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-98.0, 40.0);
viewer.camera.lookAt(center, new Cesium.Cartesian3(0.0, -4790000.0, 3930000.0));

// 2. Using a HeadingPitchRange offset
var center = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-72.0, 40.0);
var heading = Cesium.Math.toRadians(50.0);
var pitch = Cesium.Math.toRadians(-20.0);
var range = 5000.0;
viewer.camera.lookAt(center, new Cesium.HeadingPitchRange(heading, pitch, range));

lookAtTransform(transform, offset)
Scene/Camera.js 1785

Sets the camera position and orientation using a target and transformation matrix. The offset can be either a cartesian or heading/pitch/range. If the offset is a cartesian, then it is an offset from the center of the reference frame defined by the transformation matrix. If the offset is heading/pitch/range, then the heading and the pitch angles are defined in the reference frame defined by the transformation matrix. The heading is the angle from y axis and increasing towards the x axis. Pitch is the rotation from the xy-plane. Positive pitch angles are below the plane. Negative pitch angles are above the plane. The range is the distance from the center. In 2D, there must be a top down view. The camera will be placed above the center of the reference frame. The height above the target will be the magnitude of the offset. The heading will be determined from the offset. If the heading cannot be determined from the offset, the heading will be north.
Name Type Description
transform Matrix4 The transformation matrix defining the reference frame.
offset Cartesian3 | HeadingPitchRange optional The offset from the target in a reference frame centered at the target.
Throws:
Example:
// 1. Using a cartesian offset
var transform = Cesium.Transforms.eastNorthUpToFixedFrame(Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-98.0, 40.0));
viewer.camera.lookAtTransform(transform, new Cesium.Cartesian3(0.0, -4790000.0, 3930000.0));

// 2. Using a HeadingPitchRange offset
var transform = Cesium.Transforms.eastNorthUpToFixedFrame(Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-72.0, 40.0));
var heading = Cesium.Math.toRadians(50.0);
var pitch = Cesium.Math.toRadians(-20.0);
var range = 5000.0;
viewer.camera.lookAtTransform(transform, new Cesium.HeadingPitchRange(heading, pitch, range));

lookDown(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1416

Rotates the camera around its right vector by amount, in radians, in the opposite direction of its up vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:

lookLeft(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1377

Rotates the camera around its up vector by amount, in radians, in the opposite direction of its right vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:

lookRight(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1390

Rotates the camera around its up vector by amount, in radians, in the direction of its right vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:

lookUp(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1403

Rotates the camera around its right vector by amount, in radians, in the direction of its up vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:

move(direction, amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1278

Translates the camera's position by amount along direction.
Name Type Description
direction Cartesian3 The direction to move.
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:

moveBackward(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1314

Translates the camera's position by amount along the opposite direction of the camera's view vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:

moveDown(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1339

Translates the camera's position by amount along the opposite direction of the camera's up vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:

moveForward(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1301

Translates the camera's position by amount along the camera's view vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:

moveLeft(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1364

Translates the camera's position by amount along the opposite direction of the camera's right vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:

moveRight(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1351

Translates the camera's position by amount along the camera's right vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:

moveUp(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1326

Translates the camera's position by amount along the camera's up vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:

pickEllipsoid(windowPosition, ellipsoid, result) → Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 2148

Pick an ellipsoid or map.
Name Type Default Description
windowPosition Cartesian2 The x and y coordinates of a pixel.
ellipsoid Ellipsoid Ellipsoid.WGS84 optional The ellipsoid to pick.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
If the ellipsoid or map was picked, returns the point on the surface of the ellipsoid or map in world coordinates. If the ellipsoid or map was not picked, returns undefined.

rotate(axis, angle)
Scene/Camera.js 1492

Rotates the camera around axis by angle. The distance of the camera's position to the center of the camera's reference frame remains the same.
Name Type Description
axis Cartesian3 The axis to rotate around given in world coordinates.
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
See:

rotateDown(angle)
Scene/Camera.js 1517

Rotates the camera around the center of the camera's reference frame by angle downwards.
Name Type Description
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
See:

rotateLeft(angle)
Scene/Camera.js 1591

Rotates the camera around the center of the camera's reference frame by angle to the left.
Name Type Description
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
See:

rotateRight(angle)
Scene/Camera.js 1578

Rotates the camera around the center of the camera's reference frame by angle to the right.
Name Type Description
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
See:

rotateUp(angle)
Scene/Camera.js 1530

Rotates the camera around the center of the camera's reference frame by angle upwards.
Name Type Description
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
See:

setView(options)
Scene/Camera.js 1031

Sets the camera position, orientation and transform.
Name Type Description
options Object Object with the following properties:
Name Type Description
destination Cartesian3 | Rectangle optional The final position of the camera in WGS84 (world) coordinates or a rectangle that would be visible from a top-down view.
orientation Object optional An object that contains either direction and up properties or heading, pith and roll properties. By default, the direction will point towards the center of the frame in 3D and in the negative z direction in Columbus view or 2D. The up direction will point towards local north in 3D and in the positive y direction in Columbus view or 2D.
endTransform Matrix4 optional Transform matrix representing the reference frame of the camera.
Example:
// 1. Set position with a top-down view
viewer.camera.setView({
    destination : Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-117.16, 32.71, 15000.0)
});

// 2 Set view with heading, pitch and roll
viewer.camera.setView({
    destination : cartesianPosition,
    orientation: {
        heading : Cesium.Math.toRadians(90.0), // east, default value is 0.0 (north)
        pitch : Cesium.Math.toRadians(-90),    // default value (looking down)
        roll : 0.0                             // default value
    }
});

// 3. Change heading, pitch and roll with the camera position remaining the same.
viewer.camera.setView({
    orientation: {
        heading : Cesium.Math.toRadians(90.0), // east, default value is 0.0 (north)
        pitch : Cesium.Math.toRadians(-90),    // default value (looking down)
        roll : 0.0                             // default value
    }
});


// 4. View rectangle with a top-down view
viewer.camera.setView({
    destination : Cesium.Rectangle.fromDegrees(west, south, east, north)
});

// 5. Setposition with an orientation using unit vectors.
viewer.camera.setView({
    destination : Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-122.19, 46.25, 5000.0),
    orientation : {
        direction : new Cesium.Cartesian3(-0.04231243104240401, -0.20123236049443421, -0.97862924300734),
        up : new Cesium.Cartesian3(-0.47934589305293746, -0.8553216253114552, 0.1966022179118339)
    }
});

twistLeft(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1461

Rotate the camera counter-clockwise around its direction vector by amount, in radians.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:

twistRight(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1473

Rotate the camera clockwise around its direction vector by amount, in radians.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:

viewBoundingSphere(boundingSphere, offset)
Scene/Camera.js 2603

Sets the camera so that the current view contains the provided bounding sphere.

The offset is heading/pitch/range in the local east-north-up reference frame centered at the center of the bounding sphere. The heading and the pitch angles are defined in the local east-north-up reference frame. The heading is the angle from y axis and increasing towards the x axis. Pitch is the rotation from the xy-plane. Positive pitch angles are below the plane. Negative pitch angles are above the plane. The range is the distance from the center. If the range is zero, a range will be computed such that the whole bounding sphere is visible.

In 2D, there must be a top down view. The camera will be placed above the target looking down. The height above the target will be the range. The heading will be determined from the offset. If the heading cannot be determined from the offset, the heading will be north.

Name Type Description
boundingSphere BoundingSphere The bounding sphere to view, in world coordinates.
offset HeadingPitchRange optional The offset from the target in the local east-north-up reference frame centered at the target.
Throws:
  • DeveloperError : viewBoundingSphere is not supported while morphing.

worldToCameraCoordinates(cartesian, result) → Cartesian4
Scene/Camera.js 1127

Transform a vector or point from world coordinates to the camera's reference frame.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian4 The vector or point to transform.
result Cartesian4 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed vector or point.

worldToCameraCoordinatesPoint(cartesian, result) → Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 1148

Transform a point from world coordinates to the camera's reference frame.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian3 The point to transform.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed point.

worldToCameraCoordinatesVector(cartesian, result) → Cartesian3
Scene/Camera.js 1169

Transform a vector from world coordinates to the camera's reference frame.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian3 The vector to transform.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed vector.

zoomIn(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1646

Zooms amount along the camera's view vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount to move. Defaults to defaultZoomAmount.
See:

zoomOut(amount)
Scene/Camera.js 1663

Zooms amount along the opposite direction of the camera's view vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount to move. Defaults to defaultZoomAmount.
See:

Type Definitions

FlightCancelledCallback()
Scene/Camera.js 2860

A function that will execute when a flight is cancelled.

FlightCompleteCallback()
Scene/Camera.js 2855

A function that will execute when a flight completes.