<!--
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  "availability" : [
    "MapKit JS: 5.12.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "MapKitJS",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/MapKitJS/Map/distances-data.property",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Instance Property",
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    "modules" : [
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    "preciseIdentifier" : "instp/mapkit.Map/distances"
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  "title" : "distances"
}
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# distances

The system of measurement that displays on the map.

```
get distances(): DistanceUnitSystem;
set distances(distances: DistanceUnitSystem);
```

## Discussion

Sets the system of measurement for displaying map distances. See [`DistanceUnitSystem`](/documentation/MapKitJS/DistanceUnitSystem) for accepted values.

This property applies to the scale, if it displays. The default value is [`Adaptive`](/documentation/MapKitJS/DistanceUnitSystem/Adaptive), which means that the measurement system depends on the map’s set [`language`](/documentation/MapKitJS/MapKitInitializationOptions/language). This property affects displayed distances only; it doesn’t affect data that returns from a service, such as [`Directions`](/documentation/MapKitJS/Directions).

## Topics

### Distances

[`const DistanceUnitSystem: Readonly<{
    readonly Adaptive: "adaptive";
    readonly Metric: "metric";
    readonly Imperial: "imperial";
}>
type DistanceUnitSystem =
    (typeof DistanceUnitSystem)[keyof typeof DistanceUnitSystem];`](/documentation/MapKitJS/DistanceUnitSystem)

Constants that indicate the system of measurement that displays on the map.


---

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