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Leaflet

by Volodymyr Agafonkin and contributors · Library · also known as Leaflet.js

Lightweight open-source JavaScript library for interactive tile-based web maps with markers, vector layers and a large plugin ecosystem

BSD-2-Clause licenseOpen sourceFreeLocalSelf-hostable
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Link verified Nov 2, 2026

Overview

Leaflet is an open-source JavaScript library for building interactive maps in the browser, created by Volodymyr Agafonkin and maintained by a community of contributors. It renders raster tile layers from any XYZ or WMS source, draws markers, popups, polylines, polygons and GeoJSON overlays, and handles touch and keyboard interaction with a small footprint and no dependencies. Hundreds of plugins add clustering, heatmaps, drawing, routing and vector-tile support, and wrappers exist for React, Vue and Python (Folium, ipyleaflet). It is the common choice for dashboards and research pages that need an OSM base map with a few overlays. Leaflet does not include map data or tile hosting, renders raster tiles rather than styled vector tiles by default, and depends on plugins for 3D, rotation and heavy vector workloads.

Capabilities

  • Raster tile layers from XYZ and WMS sources
  • Markers, popups, vector shapes and GeoJSON layers
  • Mobile-friendly touch and keyboard interaction
  • Plugin ecosystem for clustering, drawing, heatmaps and vector tiles
  • Framework wrappers for React, Vue and Python

Typical workflows

  1. Embed an OSM base map with clustered property markers in a web page
  2. Render GeoPandas output as an interactive map through Folium

Strengths

  • Small, dependency-free and BSD-licensed
  • Works with any tile provider
  • Large plugin and tutorial base

Limitations

  • Raster-first; vector tiles and rotation need plugins
  • No bundled data or tile hosting
  • Less suited to heavy client-side vector rendering

Prerequisites

  • A tile source such as OSM-derived tiles or a commercial provider

Who it is for

  • Web developers
  • Researchers publishing interactive maps

Alternatives & comparison

MapLibre GL renders vector tiles with WebGL and supports rotation and 3D, at the cost of a heavier runtime; Leaflet is simpler for raster tiles and overlays. Mapbox and Google Maps Platform are hosted services with their own SDKs and metered pricing.

  • D3

    Modular JavaScript library for bespoke, data-driven web graphics: scales, axes, shapes, layouts, geo projections, transitions and DOM selections

    Open sourceOpen source
  • Google Maps Platform

    Google's commercial suite of mapping APIs: maps and Street View embedding, Places, Geocoding, Routes and Distance Matrix, billed per request

    ProprietaryUsage-based
  • Mapbox

    Commercial mapping platform with vector tiles, map styling, geocoding, directions and SDKs for web, iOS and Android, billed by usage

    ProprietaryFreemium
  • MapLibre

    Open-source vector-tile map renderers for web (GL JS) and native platforms, forked from Mapbox GL and governed by a community organisation

    Open sourceOpen source
Compare Leaflet with its alternatives →

Sources & verification

Primary sources consulted for this record. Claims are tied to the fields each source supports; the automated link checker re-verifies every URL on a schedule.

  • License
    LICENSE (BSD 2-Clause)

    https://github.com/Leaflet/Leaflet/blob/main/LICENSE

    Supports: license_spdx, source_model

    checked Nov 1, 2026
  • Official documentation
    Leaflet plugins

    https://leafletjs.com/plugins.html

    Supports: capabilities, integrations

    checked Nov 1, 2026
  • Official documentation
    Leaflet API reference

    https://leafletjs.com/reference.html

    Supports: capabilities

    checked Nov 1, 2026
  • Official site
    Leaflet

    https://leafletjs.com/

    Supports: name, summary

    checked Nov 1, 2026
Confidence
High
Reviewed
Nov 1, 2026
Links
Verified · Nov 2, 2026

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