How to change the map center in Leaflet.js

You could also use:

var latLon = L.latLng(40.737, -73.923);
var bounds = latLon.toBounds(500); // 500 = metres
map.panTo(latLon).fitBounds(bounds);

This will set the view level to fit the bounds in the map leaflet.

For example:

map.panTo(new L.LatLng(40.737, -73.923));

Use map.panTo(); does not do anything if the point is in the current view. Use map.setView() instead.

I had a polyline and I had to center map to a new point in polyline at every second. Check the code : GOOD: https://jsfiddle.net/nstudor/xcmdwfjk/

mymap.setView(point, 11, { animation: true });        

BAD: https://jsfiddle.net/nstudor/Lgahv905/

mymap.panTo(point);
mymap.setZoom(11);

You can also use:

map.setView(new L.LatLng(40.737, -73.923), 8);

It just depends on what behavior you want. map.panTo() will pan to the location with zoom/pan animation, while map.setView() immediately set the new view to the desired location/zoom level.