Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data comes in various formats, each serving specific purposes in spatial analysis, mapping, and geographic data management. Our comprehensive GIS Format Converter provides seamless conversion between the three most important spatial data formats: WKT (Well-Known Text), WKB (Well-Known Binary), and GeoJSON.
Whether you're a GIS professional, web developer, data analyst, or researcher working with spatial data, understanding these formats and having reliable conversion tools is essential for your workflow. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about GIS format conversion, best practices, and practical applications.
Well-Known Text (WKT) is a text markup language for representing vector geometry objects on a coordinate plane. Developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), WKT provides a human-readable way to describe geometric shapes including points, lines, polygons, and complex geometries.
POINT(30 10)
LINESTRING(30 10, 10 30, 40 40)
POLYGON((30 10, 40 40, 20 40, 10 20, 30 10))
WKT is commonly used in spatial databases like PostGIS, Oracle Spatial, and SQL Server, making it essential for database operations and spatial queries.
Well-Known Binary (WKB) is the binary equivalent of WKT, providing a more compact and efficient way to store and transmit spatial data. While not human-readable like WKT, WKB offers significant advantages in terms of storage space and processing speed.
WKB is the preferred format for storing geometries in databases and for network transmission where bandwidth and storage efficiency are critical.
GeoJSON is a format for encoding geographic data structures using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). It supports various geometric types including Point, LineString, Polygon, MultiPoint, MultiLineString, MultiPolygon, and GeometryCollection, along with additional properties.
GeoJSON has become the de facto standard for web mapping applications, APIs, and modern GIS workflows, especially in web development and data visualization.
When working with spatial databases like PostGIS or SQL Server, you often need to convert between WKT and WKB formats. WKT is ideal for human-readable queries and debugging, while WKB provides efficient storage and retrieval. Our converter helps bridge this gap seamlessly.
Modern web mapping libraries like Leaflet, Mapbox GL JS, and OpenLayers primarily work with GeoJSON. If your data is stored in WKT or WKB format, conversion to GeoJSON is essential for web visualization and interactive mapping applications.
During data migration projects or Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) processes, you may encounter data in different formats. Having a reliable conversion tool ensures data integrity and compatibility across different systems and platforms.
When building APIs that serve spatial data, you need to ensure compatibility with various client applications. Some clients expect GeoJSON, others work with WKT, and database-driven applications often require WKB format.
Always be aware of the coordinate reference system when converting between formats. While our tool preserves coordinate values, ensure that all systems involved use the same CRS to avoid spatial inconsistencies.
Always validate your spatial data after conversion. Check for proper geometry closure in polygons, coordinate order consistency, and ensure that complex geometries maintain their topological relationships.
For large datasets, consider the performance implications of each format. WKB is most efficient for storage and transmission, WKT is best for debugging and human inspection, and GeoJSON excels in web applications.
Be mindful of coordinate precision requirements for your specific use case. High-precision applications may require careful attention to floating-point representation and potential precision loss during conversion.
Our converter supports all standard OGC geometry types:
Our conversion engine maintains full precision during format transformation. We use industry-standard libraries and algorithms to ensure that coordinate values, geometry relationships, and spatial properties are preserved throughout the conversion process.
The converter includes comprehensive error handling to identify and report issues such as invalid geometries, malformed input data, and unsupported geometry types. This helps ensure data quality and identifies potential problems before they affect downstream applications.
Scenario: You have point data from a PostGIS database in WKT format and need to display it on a web map.
Scenario: You have polygon data in GeoJSON format that needs to be stored efficiently in a database.
Scenario: You need to inspect and debug a complex MultiPolygon geometry.
Instant format conversion as you type or paste data. No need to wait for processing or server round-trips - everything happens locally in your browser for maximum speed and privacy.
Immediately see your converted geometries on an interactive map powered by Leaflet. Verify spatial accuracy and visualize complex geometries before using them in your applications.
Import spatial data directly from .wkt, .wkb, and .geojson files, and export your converted data back to files. Perfect for batch processing and workflow integration.
Manage multiple spatial datasets simultaneously with our advanced layer management system. Compare different geometries and organize your spatial data efficiently.
Our GIS Format Converter adheres to all relevant industry standards and specifications to ensure compatibility and reliability across different platforms and applications.
Our comprehensive GIS Format Converter provides seamless conversion between WKT (Well-Known Text), WKB (Well-Known Binary), and GeoJSON formats. This tool not only facilitates the conversion process but also provides layer management and map visualization of the converted data using the Leaflet library.
Whether you are a GIS professional, web developer, data analyst, or researcher working with spatial data, our tool simplifies the process of data conversion and visualization, making it easier to work with different GIS formats across various platforms and applications.