Turf.js

Turf.js is a modular, open-source JavaScript library for geospatial analysisGeospatial AnalysisGeospatial analysis applies statistical methods and specialized software to interpret spatial data, uncovering patter..., developed and maintained by MapboxMapboxMapbox is a robust platform that equips developers with tools to create highly customizable, interactive maps for web.... It brings the power of traditional GISGISGeographic Information Systems (GIS) enable users to analyze and visualize spatial data to uncover patterns, relation... spatial analysis operations to web browsers and Node.js environments, enabling developers to perform complex geographic computations entirely on the client side. By operating on standard GeoJSONGeoJSONGeoJSON is an open standard format for encoding geographic data structures using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). I... data, Turf.js integrates seamlessly with modern web mapping libraries and provides a lightweight alternative to server-side GIS processing for many common spatial analysis tasks. Core FeaturesTurf.js provides a comprehensive toolkit of spatial analysis functions organized into functional categories:Measurement: Calculate distances, areas, centroids, bounding boxes, and lengths using geodesic algorithms that account for Earth's curvature.Transformation: Perform buffering, simplification, convex hulls, Voronoi diagrams, and coordinate transformations.Classification: Point-in-polygon testing, nearest neighbor analysisNearest Neighbor AnalysisNearest neighbor analysis measures the average distance between each point and its closest neighbor in a dataset, com..., and spatial clusteringSpatial ClusteringSpatial clustering groups geographic features based on their spatial proximity and optionally their attribute similar... operations.Interpolation: Generate TIN models, isolines, and IDWIDWInverse Distance Weighting (IDW) is a deterministic spatial interpolation method that estimates values at unmeasured ... interpolation surfaces from point data.Aggregation: Collect, combine, and dissolveDissolveDissolve merges adjacent or overlapping features that share a common attribute value into single, unified features by... features based on spatial relationships or attribute values.Boolean operations: Perform intersection, union, difference, and symmetric difference operations on polygons.Helper functions: Create GeoJSON features, convert between coordinate systemsCoordinate SystemsCoordinate systems standardize the description of geographic locations using latitude, longitude, and other spatial d..., and manipulate feature properties.Grid generation: Create point, square, triangle, and hexagonal grids for spatial analysis and visualization. ApplicationsTurf.js enables spatial analysis across a wide range of web-based applications:Store locatorStore LocatorA store locator is a web or mobile application feature that helps customers find the nearest physical location of a b... applications: Calculate distances to nearby locations, determine service areas, and find the nearest points of interestPoints of InterestPoints of interest (POI) are specific geographic locations that are useful or notable for a particular purpose—such a....Logistics and delivery: Compute routes, coverage zones, and delivery radius calculations directly in the browser.Environmental analysis: Perform watershed delineation, terrain analysisTerrain AnalysisTerrain analysis derives quantitative measurements and descriptive information about the Earth's land surface from di..., and habitat connectivity modeling in web applications.Urban planningUrban PlanningUrban Planning is the systematic process of designing and managing the development of cities and communities. It inte...: Calculate population density, generate isochrones, and analyze walkability using client-side spatial operations.Data exploration: Enable interactive spatial filtering, clustering, and aggregation for exploratory data analysis dashboards.Mobile applications: Run spatial analysis in ReactReactReact is a powerful JavaScript library designed for creating dynamic, reusable user interface components, primarily f... Native and other mobile JavaScript environments without requiring network connectivity. AdvantagesTurf.js offers several compelling benefits for web developers and analysts:Client-side processing: Eliminates the need for server-side GIS infrastructure for many common spatial analysis tasks, reducing latency and server costs.Modular design: Each function is available as a separate npm package, allowing developers to include only the functionality they need, minimizing bundle size.GeoJSON native: Works directly with the GeoJSON standard, ensuring compatibility with virtually every web mapping library and geospatial API.Lightweight and fast: Optimized for performance in browser environments, handling thousands of features with responsive speed.No dependencies: Core modules have minimal external dependencies, reducing potential conflicts and security concerns.Extensive documentation: Well-documented API with clear examples makes it easy for developers to get started and find the functions they need. ChallengesWhile Turf.js is powerful for client-side analysis, it has certain limitations:Performance with large datasets: Complex operations on very large datasets can be slow in the browser due to JavaScript's single-threaded nature.Precision limitations: Floating-point arithmetic can introduce small errors in geometric operationsGeometric OperationsGeometric operations are spatial transformations applied to vector geometries, including union, intersection, differe..., which may matter for high-precision applications.Limited raster support: Turf.js focuses on vector dataVector DataVector data represents geographic features as discrete points, lines, and polygons with associated attribute informat... and does not provide raster analysis capabilities.Not a full GIS replacement: For complex analytical workflows requiring multi-step processing pipelines, dedicated GIS software may be more appropriate.TopologyTopologyTopology in GIS defines the spatial relationships between geographic features, including adjacency, connectivity, and... handling: Turf.js does not maintain topological relationships between features, which can lead to gaps or overlaps in some operations. Emerging TrendsTurf.js continues to evolve within the broader JavaScript geospatial ecosystem:WebAssembly optimization: Computationally intensive functions are being explored for WebAssembly compilation to improve performance.Integration with deck.glDeck.glDeck.gl is an open-source WebGL-powered framework for visual exploratory data analysis of large datasets. Developed b... and Kepler.glKepler.glKepler.gl is an open-source geospatial analysis tool for large-scale data visualization. Developed by Uber, it provid...: Turf.js operations are increasingly used as preprocessing steps for advanced visualizations.TypeScript support: Growing adoption of TypeScript definitions improves developer experience and code reliability.Streaming and web worker support: Moving heavy computations to web workers enables non-blocking spatial analysis in web applications. Turf.js has become an essential tool in the web geospatial developer's toolkit, bringing powerful spatial analysis capabilities to JavaScript environments. Its modular design, GeoJSON compatibility, and client-side processing model make it ideal for building responsive, interactive geospatial applications. As web technologies continue to advance, Turf.js will remain a foundational library for in-browser spatial analysis.