> For the complete MongoDB documentation index, see www.mongodb.com/docs/llms.txt

# $polygon (query predicate operator)

## Definition

Specifies a polygon for a [geospatial](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/reference/glossary.md#std-term-geospatial) [`$geoWithin`](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/reference/operator/query/geowithin.md#mongodb-query-op.-geoWithin) query on legacy coordinate pairs. The query returns pairs that are within the bounds of the polygon. The operator does *not* query for GeoJSON objects.

To define the polygon, specify an array of coordinate points:

```javascript
{
   <location field>: {
      $geoWithin: {
         $polygon: [ [ <x1> , <y1> ], [ <x2> , <y2> ], [ <x3> , <y3> ], ... ]
      }
   }
}
```

The last point is always implicitly connected to the first. You can specify as many points, i.e. sides, as you like.

**Important: If you use longitude and latitude, specify longitude first.**

## Behavior

The [`$polygon`](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/reference/operator/query/polygon.md#mongodb-query-op.-polygon) operator calculates distances using flat (planar) geometry.

Applications can use [`$polygon`](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/reference/operator/query/polygon.md#mongodb-query-op.-polygon) *without* having a geospatial index. However, geospatial indexes support much faster queries than the unindexed equivalents.

Only the [2d](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/core/indexes/index-types/geospatial/2d.md#std-label-2d-index) geospatial index supports the [`$polygon`](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/reference/operator/query/polygon.md#mongodb-query-op.-polygon) operator.

## Example

The following query returns all documents that have coordinates that exist within the polygon defined by `[ 0 , 0 ]`, `[ 3 , 6 ]`, and `[ 6 , 0 ]`:

```javascript
db.places.find(
  {
     loc: {
       $geoWithin: { $polygon: [ [ 0 , 0 ], [ 3 , 6 ], [ 6 , 0 ] ] }
     }
  }
)
```