🗺️GeoJSON

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A JSON-based format for encoding geographic features with geometry and properties.

DESCRIPTION

GeoJSON is an open geospatial data format that represents geometries (Point, LineString, Polygon, and multipart variants), Features, and FeatureCollections in JSON. Standardized by IETF RFC 7946, it assumes WGS 84 longitude/latitude coordinates. It’s widely used in web mapping and APIs due to its human readability and compatibility with JavaScript. GeoJSON supports properties alongside geometry for feature attributes. It is commonly used with web map libraries, REST APIs, and modern data pipelines for geospatial services.

ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS

IETF (RFC 7946)

GeoJSON is a format for encoding a variety of geographic data structures using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON).

Formal standard emphasizing JSON-based encoding of diverse geographic structures.

Source

GeoJSON

GeoJSON is a format for encoding a variety of geographic data structures using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON).

Community-maintained site reiterating the canonical definition consistent with RFC 7946.

Source

Mapbox

GeoJSON is an open standard format designed for representing simple geographical features, along with their non-spatial attributes, using JSON.

Highlights open standard nature and pairing of geometry with attributes for features.

Source

RELATED TERMS

TopoJSON Well-Known Text WGS 84 Predictor Variable FeatureCollection PostGIS Vector Tile Coordinate Reference System

COMPETING TERMS

Shapefile KML

KNOWLEDGE AREAS

Data Engineering Data Integration & Interoperability Data Modeling Platform & Tooling Data Services

TARGET AUDIENCE

Data Engineer Software Developer Data Scientist Analytics Engineer Data Architect BI Specialist

EXTERNAL SOURCES

• Wikipedia - GeoJSON
• IETF - Official GeoJSON specification.
• GDAL - Driver details for GeoJSON support.
• Mapbox - Practical glossary and usage tips.
• PostGIS - Database function to output GeoJSON.

TOP QUESTIONS

What is GeoJSON used for?

GeoJSON is used to represent and exchange geographic features in web APIs, mapping libraries, and data pipelines. It enables simple, interoperable geospatial data exchange.

Category: Overview

Why is GeoJSON popular compared to Shapefile for web apps?

GeoJSON is text-based, lightweight, and native to JavaScript, making it ideal for web apps. Shapefiles require multiple files and specialized readers.

Category: Relevancy

Which coordinate reference system does GeoJSON use?

RFC 7946 requires WGS 84, expressed as longitude, latitude order. Custom CRSs are discouraged in the current standard.

Category: Standards

How does a GeoJSON Feature differ from a Geometry?

A Geometry contains coordinates and type only. A Feature wraps a Geometry and includes an id and properties for attributes.

Category: Concepts

What are common mistakes when working with GeoJSON?

Common errors include swapping latitude/longitude order, invalid ring orientation for polygons, and improper use of Multi geometries.

Category: Mistakes

How large can a GeoJSON get before performance degrades?

Very large GeoJSONs can slow rendering and parsing. Consider tiling, pagination, or binary encodings like FlatGeobuf for scalability.

Category: Performance

What tools convert Shapefile to GeoJSON?

GDAL/OGR, QGIS, and many cloud services convert between Shapefile and GeoJSON reliably.

Category: How-To

Is GeoJSON suitable for 3D data?

GeoJSON supports optional third coordinates (elevation) but lacks full 3D topology; formats like CityGML may be better for complex 3D.

Category: Scope

What are alternatives or competing formats to GeoJSON?

KML, Shapefile, and TopoJSON are common alternatives. Vector Tiles suit tiled web visualization at scale.

Category: Alternatives