GeoDataViewer
Menu
Launch Studio
Theme
Studio Formats
ESRI Shapefile GeoJSON KML / KMZ GPX Tracks kepler.gl JSON AutoCAD DXF AutoCAD DWG CSV / Excel MS Excel GeoParquet GeoPackage SQLite FileGDB FlatGeobuf MapInfo TopoJSON GML OSM PBF Garmin FIT IGC Flight Logs WKT / WKB
Pages
Datasets Blog Documentation About Measure Distance Measure Area Radius Map Tool How Far Can I Drive Current Location & Weather Elevation Finder World Time Zones OpenClaw Exposure Map
Converters
GeoJSON
GeoJSON to ESRI Shapefile GeoJSON to GeoPackage GeoJSON to PMTiles
ESRI Shapefile
ESRI Shapefile to GeoJSON ESRI Shapefile to GeoPackage ESRI Shapefile to MBTiles
CSV
CSV to GeoJSON CSV to GeoPackage CSV to GPX
GPX
GPX to GeoJSON GPX to GeoPackage GPX to KML
GeoPackage
GeoPackage to GeoJSON GeoPackage to ESRI Shapefile GeoPackage to File Geodatabase
FlatGeobuf
FlatGeobuf to GeoJSON FlatGeobuf to GeoPackage FlatGeobuf to ESRI Shapefile
JSON-FG
JSON-FG to GeoJSON JSON-FG to GeoPackage JSON-FG to ESRI Shapefile
KML
KML to GeoJSON KML to GeoPackage KML to ESRI Shapefile
Mapbox Vector Tiles
Mapbox Vector Tiles to GeoJSON Mapbox Vector Tiles to GeoPackage Mapbox Vector Tiles to ESRI Shapefile
PMTiles
PMTiles to GeoJSON PMTiles to GeoPackage PMTiles to ESRI Shapefile
MBTiles
MBTiles to GeoJSON MBTiles to GeoPackage MBTiles to ESRI Shapefile
AutoCAD DXF
AutoCAD DXF to GeoJSON AutoCAD DXF to GeoPackage AutoCAD DXF to ESRI Shapefile
GML
GML to GeoJSON GML to GeoPackage GML to ESRI Shapefile
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel to GeoJSON Microsoft Excel to GeoPackage Microsoft Excel to CSV
GeoRSS
GeoRSS to GeoJSON GeoRSS to GPX GeoRSS to KML
MapInfo
MapInfo to GeoJSON MapInfo to GeoPackage MapInfo to ESRI Shapefile
File Geodatabase
File Geodatabase to GeoJSON File Geodatabase to GeoPackage File Geodatabase to ESRI Shapefile
SpatiaLite / SQLite
SpatiaLite / SQLite to GeoJSON SpatiaLite / SQLite to GeoPackage SpatiaLite / SQLite to ESRI Shapefile
• GeoDataViewer Team

What Is KML and KMZ? Google Earth Formats Explained

Learn what KML and KMZ are, what they’re used for, and how to open or convert KML/KMZ to GeoJSON for modern web mapping.

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is an XML-based format used to store geographic features and overlays, originally popularized by Google Earth. KMZ is a zipped version of KML that can bundle the KML with related resources such as icons or images.

To preview KML quickly, use the KML viewer: /open-kml-online/.

What KML contains

KML commonly includes:

  • Placemarks (points, lines, polygons)
  • Folders and feature grouping
  • Styling information (colors, labels, icons)
  • Descriptions and metadata

KMZ packages the same content into a single compressed file, which is easier to share.

When KML/KMZ is a good choice

Use KML/KMZ when:

  • You need a format that works well in Google Earth
  • You want to share map overlays with styling and organization
  • Your workflow already produces KML outputs

Limitations

  • KML is less convenient for modern web mapping toolchains than GeoJSON.
  • Tooling can vary across platforms, especially for complex styling.

Convert KML to GeoJSON

GeoJSON is typically easier for web maps and APIs:

Tags: #kml #kmz #google-earth #gis #tutorial
Share this post:

Related Posts

Extracting POIs from OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps: A Practical Guide

Extract EV charging and gas station POIs from NYC OSM data with osmium, and compare with Overture Maps' GeoParquet pipeline.

#OSM #OpenStreetMap #Overture Maps

How to Open a Shapefile Online (with .dbf, .shx, .prj)

Step-by-step: open a Shapefile online in your browser, upload the required sidecar files, and troubleshoot missing .dbf/.shx/.prj issues.

#shapefile #tutorial #gis

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 #geojson #comparison

What Is a Shapefile? (.shp + .dbf + .shx Explained)

What is a Shapefile and why does it include multiple sidecar files? Learn how Shapefile works, common issues, and how to open Shapefiles online.

#shapefile #esri #gis