$geoWithin (Within Geometry)
Last updated: 2026-10-09
$geoWithin (Within Geometry)
$geoWithin finds documents whose location falls inside a given geometry: $box (rectangle), $polygon, $center (circle, planar), $centerSphere (spherical circle), or $geometry (GeoJSON). `{ loc: { $geoWithin: { $box: [[0, 0], [10, 10]] } } }`. Boundary points are included; a 2dsphere or 2d index is required.
| Category | Geospatial |
|---|---|
| MongoDB Version | 2.4+ |
| Example Language | mongosh (Shell) |
📝 Syntax
{ <location field>: { $geoWithin: { $geometry: <GeoJSON> } } }⚙️ Parameters
| position field | The field storing the location. |
|---|---|
| geometry | $box, $polygon, $center, $centerSphere or $geometry. |
Returns：Cursor of matching documents
▶ Example
Run the commands below in your local mongosh (requires a running mongod):
// $geoWithin: stores inside a rectangle
db.stores.find({
loc: { $geoWithin: { $box: [[-73.98, 40.75], [-73.97, 40.76]] } }
})
// GeoJSON polygon
db.stores.find({
loc: { $geoWithin: { $geometry: { type: 'Polygon', coordinates: [[[0, 0], [0, 1], [1, 1], [1, 0], [0, 0]]] } } }
})Output：
// Returns stores whose location falls inside the rectangle or polygon📌 Notes
- Requires a 2dsphere (GeoJSON) or 2d (legacy coordinate pairs) index
- Boundary points are included
- Results are not distance-sorted; use $near for that
🏷️ Related Tags
💡 Related Cases
More hands-on cases coming soon.
📚 Related Tutorials
❓ FAQ
QWhat is the difference between $geoWithin and $near?
A$geoWithin only tests containment and does not sort; $near returns results ordered by distance.
QDoes $geoWithin support circles?
AYes, $center draws a planar circle and $centerSphere a spherical one.
QIs an index required for $geoWithin?
AYes, a 2dsphere or 2d index is mandatory.
