Troubleshooting Common GeoJSON Errors
Fix common GeoJSON validation errors, formatting issues, and compatibility problems with this comprehensive troubleshooting guide.
Quick Validation Check
Before diving into specific errors, validate your GeoJSON using online tools:
1
Invalid JSON Syntax
Common Symptoms:
- Parser errors or "unexpected token" messages
- File won't load in mapping applications
- Validation tools report JSON syntax errors
❌ Incorrect:
{
"type": "Feature",
"geometry": {
"type": "Point",
"coordinates": [-122.4194, 37.7749]
},
"properties": {
"name": "San Francisco",
} // Trailing comma
}✅ Correct:
{
"type": "Feature",
"geometry": {
"type": "Point",
"coordinates": [-122.4194, 37.7749]
},
"properties": {
"name": "San Francisco"
}
}Solutions:
- • Remove trailing commas
- • Ensure all strings are in double quotes
- • Check for missing or extra brackets/braces
- • Use a JSON validator to identify syntax issues
2
Incorrect Coordinate Order
Common Symptoms:
- Points appear in wrong locations (often in the ocean)
- Data appears on the opposite side of the world
- Coordinates seem "flipped"
Remember: GeoJSON uses [longitude, latitude] order, not [latitude, longitude]!
❌ Incorrect (lat, lon):
"coordinates": [37.7749, -122.4194]✅ Correct (lon, lat):
"coordinates": [-122.4194, 37.7749]3
Invalid Geometry Types
Valid GeoJSON Geometry Types:
- Point
- LineString
- Polygon
- MultiPoint
- MultiLineString
- MultiPolygon
- GeometryCollection
Common Mistakes:
- • Using "Line" instead of "LineString"
- • Using "Circle" (not supported in GeoJSON)
- • Misspelling geometry types
- • Using custom geometry types
4
Unclosed Polygon Rings
Rule:
Polygon rings must be closed - the first and last coordinates must be identical.
❌ Unclosed:
"coordinates": [[
[-122.4, 37.8],
[-122.4, 37.7],
[-122.3, 37.7],
[-122.3, 37.8]
// Missing closing point
]]✅ Closed:
"coordinates": [[
[-122.4, 37.8],
[-122.4, 37.7],
[-122.3, 37.7],
[-122.3, 37.8],
[-122.4, 37.8]
// Closes the ring
]]5
Missing Required Properties
Required Properties:
"type"- Must be present in all GeoJSON objects"coordinates"- Required for geometry objects"geometry"and"properties"- Required for Feature objects
Quick Fix:
Always include a "properties" object, even if empty: "properties": {}
Prevention Tips
Best Practices:
- • Use GeoJSON validation tools regularly
- • Test with small datasets first
- • Keep coordinate order consistent
- • Document your coordinate system
Helpful Tools:
- • GeoJSONLint for validation
- • GeoJSON.io for visualization
- • QGIS for complex validation
- • JSON formatters for syntax
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