MapboxGL is built on top of Leaflet.js, a well-known JavaScript mapping library. Released in 2011, Leaflet supports a wide variety of well-known web mapping applications, including Foursquare, Craigslist, and Pinterest. The developer of Leaflet, Vladimir Agafonkin, has been working for Mapbox since 2013.

Building on the original Leaflet development effort, MapboxGL.js incorporates the WebGL library, which takes advantage of the HTML 5 canvas tag to support web graphics without a plug-in. MapboxGL.js supports vector tiles, as well as 3D environments that zoom and pan smoothly. It supports GeoJSON overlays as well as markers and shapes. Events, including clicks, zooms, and pans, can be used to trigger data processing functions, making it perfect for interactive web mapping applications.