KMLB

Plain Python KML Builder.

KMLB is a dependency-free Python library for writing Google Earth KML files. Easily create points, lines, polygons, styles, and folders.

Full documentation at kmlb.dev.

Installation

pip install kmlb

Requires Python 3.9+. No third-party dependencies.

Quick example

import kmlb

# Define a reusable style and a styled point
style = kmlb.point_style("city", color=("#ff8800", 100), scale=1.4)
boston = kmlb.point([-71.0589, 42.3601], "Boston", style_to_use="city")

# Assemble a document and write it to disk
kmlb.kml("My Places", [boston], styles=[style], path="my_places.kml")

Open my_places.kml in Google Earth to view it.

_{Building footprints extruded into 3D and viewed in Google Earth, built with kmlb polygons.}

Modules

The core builders are re-exported at the top level, so kmlb.point(...), kmlb.kml(...), and friends work directly. See the reference for every function.

Example use

Writing a basic KML file

import kmlb

# CREATE A POINT
fountain = kmlb.point([-71.051904, 42.358988, 0], "Rings Fountain")

# WRITE KML FILE
kmlb.kml(
    "Boston Fountain",          # KML name
    [fountain],                 # Features
    path="folder/boston_fountain.kml"  # Export path
)

Mapping a POI or an address

import kmlb

# CREATE A POINT FROM A POI
bos_common = kmlb.search_poi("Boston Common, Boston, MA")

# CREATE A POINT FROM AN ADDRESS
ss = kmlb.search_poi("700 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA", name="South Station")

# WRITE KML FILE
kmlb.kml(
    "Boston Landmarks",          # KML name
    [bos_common, ss],            # Features
    path="folder/boston_landmarks.kml"  # Export path
)

Creating a customized KML file

import kmlb

# DEFINE A STYLE
pt_style = kmlb.point_style(
    "Red Triangle",                # Point style name
    icon="triangle",               # Icon (built-in shorthand)
    color=("#ff0000", 100),        # Icon color (hex, opacity)
    scale=1.0,                     # Icon scale
    label_color=("#ffffff", 100),  # Label color (hex, opacity)
    label_size=1.0,                # Label size
)

# CREATE A POINT
clock_tower = kmlb.point(
    [-71.053568, 42.359053, 151],                   # Coordinates
    "Custom House Tower",                           # Name
    headers=["City", "Building", "Height (M)"],     # Attribute titles
    attrs=["Boston", "Custom House Tower", "151"],  # Attributes
    z_mode="RTG",                                   # Relative To Ground
    style_to_use="Red Triangle",                    # Name of point style defined earlier
)

# WRITE KML FILE
kmlb.kml(
    "Boston Clock Tower",                     # KML name
    [clock_tower],                            # Features to include
    path="folder/boston_clock_tower.kml",     # Export path
    desc="Created with KMLB Python Package",  # KML description
    styles=[pt_style],                        # Styles to include
)

Functions

Citing KMLB

Using KMLB in research or published work? A citation is appreciated (it is not required under the MIT license, but documented use builds trust in the tool). APA, Chicago, and BibTeX formats, kept current with each release, are at kmlb.dev/docs/cite.

@software{KMLB,
  author  = {Mros, III, Henry F.},
  title   = {KMLB: KML Builder},
  year    = {2026},
  version = {0.1.0},
  url     = {https://pypi.org/project/kmlb/}
}

License

MIT. Free to use, modify, and redistribute, including in commercial or proprietary tools, as long as the copyright notice and license text are retained.