KML vs GeoJSON: When Should You Convert?
KML vs GeoJSON explained: compatibility, typical use cases, and the simplest way to open and convert files for modern web mapping.
KML and GeoJSON are both popular formats for representing geographic features, but they tend to live in different ecosystems. KML is strongly associated with Google Earth-style workflows, while GeoJSON is widely used for web maps and APIs.
Quick comparison
| Topic | KML | GeoJSON |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Google Earth, sharing map overlays | Web maps, APIs, JavaScript tools |
| Encoding | XML | JSON |
| Styling | Often embedded | Usually handled by the map app |
| Tooling | Strong in Google ecosystem | Strong across modern web mapping |
When to keep KML
Keep KML when:
- Your users rely on Google Earth
- You distribute overlays with styling and folders
When to convert to GeoJSON
Convert to GeoJSON when:
- You want to integrate data into web maps
- You need a lightweight format for APIs
- You want simpler tooling and parsing
Open and convert online
- Open KML online: /open-kml-online/
- Open GeoJSON online: /open-geojson-online/
- Convert KML to GeoJSON: /kml-to-geojson/
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