# Shortest or fastest route

**URL:** <https://ask.openrouteservice.org/t/shortest-or-fastest-route/3578>\
**Category:** matrix\
**Created:** [February 3, 2022, 10:46am UTC](https://ask.openrouteservice.org/t/shortest-or-fastest-route/3578 "2022-02-03T10:46:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![goedhartilse](https://ask.openrouteservice.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@goedhartilse](https://ask.openrouteservice.org/u/goedhartilse)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 10:46am UTC](https://ask.openrouteservice.org/t/shortest-or-fastest-route/3578/1 "2022-02-03T10:46:25Z")

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What is the default setting: shortest or longest?  
Also how can I change it?

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jschnell](https://ask.openrouteservice.org/user_avatar/ask.openrouteservice.org/jschnell/32/971_2.png) [@jschnell](https://ask.openrouteservice.org/u/jschnell)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 10:49am UTC](https://ask.openrouteservice.org/t/shortest-or-fastest-route/3578/2 "2022-02-03T10:49:00Z")

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Hey,

the API default is the recommended route, which is the same as the fastest route.  
You can change that by adding `"preference":"shortest"` to your request.

Best regards