# Haversine formula

> Trigonometric equation computing the great-circle distance between two GPS points on Earth.

**URL:** https://quilometragem.com/glossary/haversine-formula

**Summary:** Trigonometric equation computing the great-circle distance between two GPS points on Earth.

- The Haversine formula (19th century) computes the straight-line distance between two surface points accounting for curvature.
- It takes latitude and longitude of origin and destination and returns meters.
- The basis of nearly every "as-the-crow-flies" calculation in apps.
- It ignores roads: real driving distance requires a routing API (Google Maps, OSRM, Mapbox).

The Haversine formula (19th century) computes the straight-line distance between two surface points accounting for curvature. It takes latitude and longitude of origin and destination and returns meters. The basis of nearly every "as-the-crow-flies" calculation in apps. It ignores roads: real driving distance requires a routing API (Google Maps, OSRM, Mapbox).