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.kml

KML Geographic Data

Maps & GPS

KML is XML for points, lines, polygons, descriptions and presentation. Coordinates generally use longitude, latitude, altitude. External images/network links may be referenced, so the file alone may not contain every display resource.

What it is used for
Map presentation of geometry, descriptions and styles
What the file contains
Text
All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

Load KML in Earth or a compatible viewer

Inspect placemarks, lines, polygons and references.

  1. Open a copy in Google Earth or another compatible application.
  2. Enable the required folders/layers.
  3. Zoom to the extent and inspect locations and presentation.
Diagnose location or altitude changes

Inspect coordinate order and altitude handling.

  1. Verify longitude, latitude and optional altitude order.
  2. Inspect altitude mode and source units/reference.
  3. Compare known locations and geometries on the map.
Deliver referenced images and assets

KML alone may not include every asset.

  1. Inspect icon, image and NetworkLink references.
  2. Preserve assets or create a supported KMZ package.
  3. Inspect features, images and required links elsewhere.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

  • Wrong location: check coordinate ordering and original CRS.
  • Missing image: check relative paths, resources and reference availability.
  • Partial rendering: check element/extension support.
  • Moved offshore: inspect longitude/latitude order and source transformation.
  • Missing icon: inspect relative paths and asset location.
  • Wrong altitude: compare altitude mode and source reference.

KML → KMZ / GeoJSON

  1. Use KMZ export to package resources and check links.
  2. For data exchange, select layers and compare geometry/properties.
  3. Validate coordinates, altitude and image references after export.

Other formats may lose styles, presentation, tours or 3D resources; renaming is not conversion.

Verify longitude, latitude and altitude order

Confusing KML coordinate order with latitude-first tables can move features; compare known points.

Source for these steps：Google · KML Reference / Google · KMZ Files / QGIS Project · Opening Data

Preserve presentation dependencies

Preserve referenced images or package them in KMZ and validate paths.

Online references depend on connectivity/access; test required rendering at the destination.

Source for these steps：Google · KML Reference / Google · KMZ Files / QGIS Project · Opening Data

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
FormatMain roleWhat to check
KMLXML geographic dataCoordinates/altitude/references
KMZKML/assets packageInternal relative paths
GeoJSONJSON geographic dataStyling/attribute differences

Handling and security

Review locations/external references; avoid blindly loading unknown network links or uploading private locations.

Questions and answers

Can I use a text editor?

For structure inspection; use a map application for rendering.

Is it identical to KMZ?

KMZ packages KML and resources.

Does latitude come first?

KML coordinate tuples use longitude before latitude.

Does KML alone preserve overlays?

Inspect referenced assets and access requirements.

Does renaming KML to XML create a map?

KML uses XML, but geographic rendering needs a compatible application.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
Formal name
Keyhole Markup Language
Steward / specification
Open Geospatial Consortium / application vendors
MIME type
Depends on the producer or server; an extension alone does not establish a MIME type.

Primary and official sources

  • Official documentationKML Reference

    Documents KML geometry, coordinate order and references.

    Google · Link checked：
  • Official documentationKMZ Files

    Explains archive structure and relative resource paths.

    Google · Link checked：
  • Official documentationOpening Data

    Load vector and GPX data as layers.

    QGIS Project · Link checked：