Re: [geolocation-sensor] Support geolocation (especially geofencing) in the "background" (#22)

From what I understand, you express that you like foreground access extension but don't like full background access.

Foreground access extension is good for some cases (like tracking a bike ride) but not all of them (like persistent tracking).

Having a page working in the background all the time is not suitable for some use cases mentioned in my previous comment (because these use cases explicitly need the tracking to be persistent and reliable, even if the user restarts the device).

Geofencing is suggested as a safer alternative to implementing full background location tracking. It has use cases mostly in location-based reminders (for example, pushing a notification with your tickets when you arrive at a concert) or automation (sending an "I'm home" signal to a home automation platform).

There is an incentive that PWAs are not just an extension of a browser but an app development platform that could have functionality on par with native apps, especially with growing support from app stores. The point is *not* having to rely on native apps. It is understandable that the APIs might be abused, which is why there were discussions about implementing full background access with some limitations to make it harder to do so.

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Received on Thursday, 6 November 2025 01:10:30 UTC