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# CKLocationSortDescriptor

An object for sorting records that contain location data.

```
class CKLocationSortDescriptor
```

## Overview

You can add a location sort descriptor to your queries when searching for records. At creation time, you must provide the sort descriptor with a key that has a <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/CoreLocation/CLLocation> object as its value. The sort descriptor uses the value of that key to perform the sort.

CloudKit computes distance by drawing a direct line between the two locations that follows the curvature of the Earth. Distances don’t account for altitude changes between the two locations.

## Topics

### Creating a Location Sort Descriptor

[`init(key:relativeLocation:)`](/documentation/CloudKit/CKLocationSortDescriptor/init(key:relativeLocation:))

Creates a location sort descriptor using the specified key and relative location.

[`init(coder:)`](/documentation/CloudKit/CKLocationSortDescriptor/init(coder:))

Creates a location sort descriptor from a serialized instance.

### Accessing the Location Value

[`relativeLocation`](/documentation/CloudKit/CKLocationSortDescriptor/relativeLocation)

The reference location for sorting records.



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