KML Validator
Validate a KML file for XML integrity, Placemark geometry, and coordinate correctness.
Upload a KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file to check its XML structure, geometry definitions, and coordinate arrays. The GDAL validator parses KML documents to verify well-formed XML, valid geometry tags (Point, LineString, Polygon, MultiGeometry), coordinate tuple consistency, and Placemark feature counts. Nested folder structures and style definitions are also analysed.
Drag file here to validate, or select file
Supported: .kml • Max 50MB
What We Validate
- Well-formed XML structure and valid KML namespace declarations
- Geometry tag validity (Point, LineString, Polygon, MultiGeometry)
- Coordinate tuple consistency (lon,lat,alt triplets or lon,lat pairs)
- Placemark feature count and name attribute presence
- Nested Folder hierarchy and Document root structure
- CDATA section integrity in description fields
Common Issues Detected
- Malformed XML with missing closing tags or invalid characters
- Coordinate tuples with incorrect order (lat,lon instead of lon,lat)
- Empty Placemark elements with no geometry definition
- Invalid geometry tag names or misspelled coordinate elements
- KMZ files uploaded instead of extracted KML content
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between KML and KMZ?
KMZ is a zipped version of KML. This validator accepts plain .kml files only. If you have a .kmz file, unzip it first and upload the inner .kml file.
Are KML styles and overlays validated?
The structural validity of style definitions is checked, but visual rendering correctness (like icon URLs or color values) is outside the scope of structural validation.
My KML opens in Google Earth but the validator fails — why?
Google Earth is lenient about certain schema deviations. The GDAL validator applies strict OGC conformance rules. Common causes include non-standard namespace declarations or extended KML schema elements.