KML Documentation Introduction

If you're new to KML, begin by browsing the KML Tutorial, which presents short samples of KML code that you can view in Google Earth and Google Maps.

The KML Reference provides detailed syntax for all KML Version 2.2 elements, with explanations and diagrams of how to specify them.

The Developer's Guide contains in-depth conceptual material and examples on how to use various KML elements such as time, regions, super-overlays, models, and updates. You'll also find introductory material describing some of the features new in KML 2.2, such as photooverlays, cameras, and details on how to create KML files for displaying sky data.

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, Google Maps, Google Maps for mobile, NASA WorldWind, ESRI ArcGIS Explorer, Adobe PhotoShop, AutoCAD, and Yahoo! Pipes.