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• GeoDataViewer Team • Updated:

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.

Quick answer: keep KML for Google Earth overlays, folders, and embedded styling. Use GeoJSON for web maps, APIs, and browser-based GIS. Convert KML with KML to GeoJSON, then inspect it in the GeoJSON viewer.

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

TopicKMLGeoJSON
Typical useGoogle Earth, sharing map overlaysWeb maps, APIs, JavaScript tools
EncodingXMLJSON
StylingOften embeddedUsually handled by the map app
ToolingStrong in Google ecosystemStrong 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

Tags: #kml #geojson #comparison #gis
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G
GeoDataViewer Team
The GeoDataViewer team builds tools for GIS professionals who need quick, private, browser-based access to geospatial data. We write about formats, conversion workflows, and practical GIS techniques based on years of experience with QGIS, ArcGIS, GDAL, and web mapping libraries.