OGC Standard Geometry

MULTILINESTRING

WKT MULTILINESTRING: Multi-segment Path Format

Direct Definition:A WKT MULTILINESTRING represents a collection of linear paths grouped as one feature, commonly used for river networks with tributaries or disconnected road segments.

Valid Syntax & Example

MULTILINESTRING ((-77.04 -12.04, -77.03 -12.03), (-77.02 -12.02, -77.01 -12.01))
Syntax: MULTILINESTRING ((line1_p1, line1_p2), (line2_p1, line2_p2))

Common Mistakes to Avoid

⚠️ Gotcha:

Confusing single-line coordinates with multi-line parentheses. Each line segment must be wrapped in its own parentheses.

PostGIS SQL Query Recipes

Creating and querying MULTILINESTRING geometries in PostgreSQL:

1. Construct MULTILINESTRING from WKT

SELECT ST_GeomFromText('MULTILINESTRING ((0 0, 1 1), (2 2, 3 3))', 4326);

2. Export MULTILINESTRING to WKT text

SELECT ST_AsText(geom) FROM river_networks;

Python & Shapely Parsing

from shapely import wkt
multi_line = wkt.loads("MULTILINESTRING ((0 0, 1 1), (2 2, 3 3))")
print("Total length:", multi_line.length)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can lines in a MULTILINESTRING intersect each other?+

Yes, lines can intersect at vertices or cross without invalidating the geometry.

Convert MULTILINESTRING to Another Format

Every converter below accepts MULTILINESTRING and runs entirely in your browser.

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Other WKT Geometry Types