In this Swift code example we will create MKMapView programmatically and will drop a MKPointAnnotation pin at user’s current location.

Add MapKit.framework to your project in Xcode

For the code below to work, it is important that you add MapKit.framework to your project. One for the ways to do it is to follow these steps:

1. Open your project in Xcode and in the left side panel called “Project navigator” select your project. Middle panel of your Xcode will update with new UI.
2. Then, from the list of Targets(Middle view of your Xcode), select your project name.
3. From the tabs above(Middle view of your Xcode) select Capabilities
4. In the list of available Capabilities, Turn on Maps. This will link MapKit.framework to your project.

The code example below will cover:

• Import MapKit into your Xcode project,
• Import CoreLocation framework,
• Create MKMapView programmatically,
• Add MapView as subview
• Determine user’s current location
• Set current region on the map
• Create MKPointAnnotation with custom title
• Drop MKPointAnnotation as a Pin at user’s current location

Info.plist

For your app to be able to request user’s current location, you will need to open Info.plist file as Source Code and add two new keys and corresponding values like for example I did:

 
	NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription
	Will you allow this app to always know your location?
	NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription
	Do you allow this app to know your current location?

Drop a Pin(MKPointAnnotation) on MapView at user’s current location. Complete Code Example in Swift.

 
import UIKit
import CoreLocation
import MapKit

class ViewController: UIViewController, MKMapViewDelegate, CLLocationManagerDelegate {
 
    var locationManager:CLLocationManager!
    var mapView:MKMapView!
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        // Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.
    }
    
    override func didReceiveMemoryWarning() {
        super.didReceiveMemoryWarning()
        // Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.
    }
    
    override func viewWillAppear(animated: Bool) {
        super.viewWillAppear(animated)
        
        // Create and Add MapView to our main view
        createMapView()
    }
    
    override func viewDidAppear(animated: Bool) {
        super.viewDidAppear(animated)
        
        determineCurrentLocation()
    }

    func createMapView()
    {
        mapView = MKMapView()
        
        let leftMargin:CGFloat = 10
        let topMargin:CGFloat = 60
        let mapWidth:CGFloat = view.frame.size.width-20
        let mapHeight:CGFloat = 300
        
        mapView.frame = CGRectMake(leftMargin, topMargin, mapWidth, mapHeight)
        
        mapView.mapType = MKMapType.Standard
        mapView.zoomEnabled = true
        mapView.scrollEnabled = true
        
        // Or, if needed, we can position map in the center of the view
        mapView.center = view.center
        
        view.addSubview(mapView)
    }
    
    func determineCurrentLocation()
    {
        locationManager = CLLocationManager()
        locationManager.delegate = self
        locationManager.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyBest
        locationManager.requestAlwaysAuthorization()
        
        if CLLocationManager.locationServicesEnabled() {
            //locationManager.startUpdatingHeading()
            locationManager.startUpdatingLocation()
        }
    }
    
    func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {
        let userLocation:CLLocation = locations[0] as CLLocation
        
        // Call stopUpdatingLocation() to stop listening for location updates,
        // other wise this function will be called every time when user location changes.
        //manager.stopUpdatingLocation()
        
        let center = CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: userLocation.coordinate.latitude, longitude: userLocation.coordinate.longitude)
        let region = MKCoordinateRegion(center: center, span: MKCoordinateSpan(latitudeDelta: 0.01, longitudeDelta: 0.01))
        
        mapView.setRegion(region, animated: true)
        
        // Drop a pin at user's Current Location
        let myAnnotation: MKPointAnnotation = MKPointAnnotation()
        myAnnotation.coordinate = CLLocationCoordinate2DMake(userLocation.coordinate.latitude, userLocation.coordinate.longitude);
        myAnnotation.title = "Current location"
        mapView.addAnnotation(myAnnotation)
    }
    
    func locationManager(manager: CLLocationManager, didFailWithError error: NSError)
    {
        print("Error \(error)")
    }
 
}

CoreLocation and MKMapKit Code Examples in Swift

Also, check out other Swift code examples I have related to CoreLocation and MKMapKit.

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