Stay organized with collectionsSave and categorize content based on your preferences.
If you're new to KML, begin by browsing theKML Tutorial, which presents short samples of KML code that you can view in Google Earth.
TheKML Referenceprovides detailed syntax for all KML elements, with explanations and diagrams of how to specify them.
TheDeveloper's Guidecontains in-depth conceptual material and examples.
Creating and Sharing KML Files
You can create KML files with the Google Earth user interface, or you can use an XML or simple text editor to enter "raw" KML from scratch. KML files and their related images (if any) can be compressed using the ZIP format into KMZ archives. To share your KML and KMZ files, you can e-mail them, host them locally for sharing within a private internet, or host them publicly on a web server. Just as web browsers display HTML files, Earth browsers such as Google Earth display KML files. Once you've properly configured your server and shared the URL (address) of your KML files, anyone who's installed Google Earth can view the KML files hosted on your public web server.
Many applications display KML, including Google Earth, NASA WorldWind, ESRI ArcGIS Explorer, Adobe PhotoShop, AutoCAD, and Yahoo! Pipes.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2023-11-03 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eNew KML users can start with the KML Tutorial for basic code samples and visualization in Google Earth.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe KML Reference offers detailed syntax and explanations for all KML elements.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eDevelopers can find in-depth conceptual material and examples in the Developer's Guide.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eKML files can be created using Google Earth or text editors, shared via email or web servers, and viewed in various Earth browsers like Google Earth.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eKML is supported by a wide range of applications, including Google Earth, NASA WorldWind, ESRI ArcGIS Explorer, and more.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# KML Documentation Introduction\n\nIf you're new to KML, begin by browsing the [*KML Tutorial*](/kml/documentation/kml_tut), which presents short samples of KML code that you can view in Google Earth.\n\nThe *[KML Reference](/kml/documentation/kmlreference)* provides detailed syntax for all KML elements, with explanations and diagrams of how to specify them.\n\nThe *[Developer's Guide](/kml/documentation/topicsinkml)* contains in-depth conceptual material and examples.\n\nCreating and Sharing KML Files\n------------------------------\n\nYou can create KML files with the Google Earth user interface, or you can use an XML or simple text editor to enter \"raw\" KML from scratch. KML files and their related images (if any) can be compressed using the ZIP format into KMZ archives. To share your KML and KMZ files, you can e-mail them, host them locally for sharing within a private internet, or host them publicly on a web server. Just as web browsers display HTML files, Earth browsers such as Google Earth display KML files. Once you've properly configured your server and shared the URL (address) of your KML files, anyone who's installed Google Earth can view the KML files hosted on your public web server.\n\nMany applications display KML, including Google Earth, NASA WorldWind, ESRI ArcGIS Explorer, Adobe PhotoShop, AutoCAD, and Yahoo! Pipes."]]
