fastkml
Fast KML processing in python
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. FastKML is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, installs with low friction, and solves a clear problem: KML file handling in Python. The LGPL license requires derivative works to remain open-source, which is a constraint for proprietary projects but not a blocker for most uses. Suitable for anyone working with KML data in geospatial workflows.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.9 or later; optional lxml dependency improves XML parsing performance.
- Low friction install with three core runtime dependencies (arrow, pygeoif, typing-extensions).
- Actively maintained as of 2025-11-04 with recent commits; no known vulnerabilities.
License · maintenance · safety
LGPL (copyleft) — Licensed under LGPL (copyleft); derivative works and modifications must remain open-source under compatible terms, which may constrain proprietary use.
last release 2025-11-04 (283 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 256 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 280,702 downloads/mo, #8,108 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install fastkml
from fastkml import kml
k = kml.KML()
# Read, write, or manipulate KML objects- Whether the library fully implements all KML 2.2 specification features beyond the documented gx extension limitation.
- Performance characteristics when handling large KML files or complex geometries.
What it is and what it does
FastKML is a Python library for reading, writing, and manipulating KML files—an XML-based geospatial format standardized by the OGC. It wraps KML structures into Python objects, handling geometries through pygeoif (compatible with shapely and other __geo_interface__ implementations) and dates through arrow. The library aims for simplicity and speed, with optional lxml support for faster XML parsing.
Typical use cases include converting between KML and Python data structures, extracting geographic features from KML files, and building KML output programmatically. It supports modern Python versions (3.9+) across CPython, PyPy, and GraalPy, and is compatible with geospatial clients like Google Earth, Google Maps, OpenLayers, and Cesium JS.
Use it for
- Parse KML files from mapping applications (Google Earth, Marble, NASA WorldWind) into Python geometry objects for analysis.
- Generate KML output from geographic data to visualize in web maps or desktop GIS clients.
- Convert between KML and other geospatial formats by leveraging pygeoif's geometry abstraction.
- Extract and manipulate geographic features (points, lines, polygons) embedded in KML documents.
- Build geospatial data pipelines that consume or produce KML as an interchange format.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
FastKML is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, installs with low friction, and solves a clear problem: KML file handling in Python. The LGPL license requires derivative works to remain open-source, which is a constraint for proprietary projects but not a blocker for most uses. Suitable for anyone working with KML data in geospatial workflows.
Install
fastkml on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction install with three core runtime dependencies (arrow, pygeoif, typing-extensions). Actively maintained as of 2025-11-04 with recent commits; no known vulnerabilities.
Requires Python 3.9 or later; optional lxml dependency improves XML parsing performance.
License in practice
Licensed under LGPL (copyleft); derivative works and modifications must remain open-source under compatible terms, which may constrain proprietary use.
Quickstart
pip install fastkml
from fastkml import kml
k = kml.KML()
# Read, write, or manipulate KML objectsVerify before relying
- Whether the library fully implements all KML 2.2 specification features beyond the documented gx extension limitation.
- Performance characteristics when handling large KML files or complex geometries.
Package facts
| License | LGPL copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 3 packagesarrowpygeoiftyping-extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 283 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 280,702 / month, #8,108 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU Library or Lesser General Public License (LGPL)Operating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.15Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: GraalPyProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: GISTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: Text Processing :: Markup :: XMLTyping :: Typed |
Evidence: fastkml-1.4.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also pykml · kml2geojson · simplekml · pygeoif · osm2geojson · python-libsbml · shapely · pyshp · docx · python-cmr