Kepler.gl is a web-based geospatial visualization framework designed for rendering large-scale location datasets. It functions as a modular React mapping component that enables developers to embed interactive, high-performance geographic visualizations into web applications, serving as a comprehensive engine for building browser-based GIS dashboards.
The library distinguishes itself through a highly extensible architecture that centers on centralized state management. By utilizing a predictable state-driven model, it allows for the programmatic control of map layers, filters, and viewport settings. Its plugin-oriented design supports deep customization, enabling developers to override default user interface components, inject custom logic into the state management pipeline, and configure specialized map providers or style definitions to match specific branding requirements.
Beyond its core rendering capabilities, the project provides a robust suite of tools for temporal data analysis and complex spatial exploration. It supports the visualization of time-series information through animated playback and interactive timelines, alongside advanced cartographic features like 3D terrain rendering, hexagonal binning, and multi-layer data aggregation. The system is built to handle large datasets by leveraging GPU-accelerated rendering and schema-driven data processing to ensure fluid interaction.
The library is distributed as a TypeScript-based package, providing a comprehensive API for managing map instances, serializing visualization states, and integrating with external cloud storage services for data persistence.
