polyline

library2.0.4pypypi✓ verified 25d ago

The `polyline` library is a Python implementation of Google's Encoded Polyline Algorithm Format. It provides functionality to encode a list of latitude/longitude coordinates into a compact polyline string and to decode such a string back into coordinates. The library is actively maintained, with the current stable version being 2.0.4, and is released on an as-needed basis for bug fixes and feature enhancements.

serialization data

pip install polyline

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · POLYLINE

polyline

serializationpythonv2.0.4

Install

1.5s avg

Import

11ms

Disk

16MB

Pass rate

10/ 10

Env Coverage10 / 10

glibc

3.9–3.13

musl

3.9–3.13

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v2.0.4 · pip install

no network on importno background threads

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 0.0s · import 0.012s · 17.8MB

glibc

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 1.5s · import 0.006s · 18MB

16MB installed

● package 16MB

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

encode

✓ from polyline import encode

✗ import polyline

decode

✓ from polyline import decode

✗ import polyline

This quickstart demonstrates encoding a list of `(latitude, longitude)` tuples into a polyline string and then decoding it back. It also shows how to handle GeoJSON-style `(longitude, latitude)` order using the `geojson=True` parameter and how to specify a custom precision.

import polyline # Example coordinates: (latitude, longitude) coords = [ (38.5, -120.2), (40.7, -120.9), (43.2, -126.4) ] # Encode coordinates into a polyline string with default precision (5) encoded_polyline = polyline.encode(coords) print(f"Encoded Polyline: {encoded_polyline}") # Decode the polyline string back to coordinates decoded_coords = polyline.decode(encoded_polyline) print(f"Decoded Coordinates: {decoded_coords}") # Example with GeoJSON style (lon, lat) and custom precision geojson_coords = [ (-120.2, 38.5), (-120.9, 40.7), (-126.4, 43.2) ] encoded_geojson = polyline.encode(geojson_coords, precision=6, geojson=True) print(f"Encoded GeoJSON Polyline (precision 6): {encoded_geojson}") decoded_geojson = polyline.decode(encoded_geojson, precision=6, geojson=True) print(f"Decoded GeoJSON Coordinates (precision 6): {decoded_geojson}")

Debug

Known issues

breakingVersion 2.0.0 and above of `polyline` only supports Python 3.7+. For applications requiring Python 2 support, you must install version 1.4.0.

fix

Upgrade to Python 3.7+ or pin the `polyline` library version to 1.4.0 (e.g., `pip install polyline==1.4.0`).

affects: >=2.0.0

gotchaThe `polyline` library uses `(latitude, longitude)` order by default for `encode` input and `decode` output, which is common in GIS but differs from the `(longitude, latitude)` order used in GeoJSON standards.

fix

Use the `geojson=True` parameter in both `polyline.encode()` and `polyline.decode()` to work with `(longitude, latitude)` coordinate tuples.

affects: All

gotchaThe `precision` parameter (defaulting to 5) must be consistent between encoding and decoding operations to ensure accurate round-tripping of coordinates.

fix

Explicitly set the `precision` parameter during both `encode` and `decode` if a non-default precision is desired or expected.

affects: All

gotchaWhen loading polyline strings from external sources like CSV files, be mindful of backslash escaping. Python's CSV reader or other parsing mechanisms might interpret `\` differently, leading to corrupted polyline strings.

fix

Ensure that backslashes in the polyline string are correctly escaped or unescaped during parsing. For example, if a `\\` in a CSV becomes `\` in Python, you might need `.replace('\\','\')` before decoding.

affects: All

Upgrade

Version history

2.0.4latest on PyPI · released Dec 2, 2025

Audit

Dependencies

No dependency data recorded yet.

Agent activity

10 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/frederickjansen/polyline ↗

packagehttps://pypi.org/project/polyline/ ↗