Format Directory

GIS Format Directory

Comprehensive reference for every GIS file format we support — history, use cases, converters, and validators.

.geojson

GeoJSON

Web Vector

The JSON-based vector format that powers most web maps.

RFC 7946

.shp

Shapefile

Legacy Vector

The 30-year-old ESRI standard that refuses to die.

ESRI Shapefile Technical Description (1998)

.gpkg

GeoPackage

Modern Vector & Raster Database

The OGC-standard SQLite container that's quietly replacing Shapefile.

OGC GeoPackage Encoding Standard 1.3

.kml

KML

Visualization XML

Google Earth's XML format for placemarks, paths, and styled overlays.

OGC KML 2.3

.kmz

KMZ

Visualization Archive

A zipped KML bundle — bring your icons and overlays along for the ride.

OGC KML 2.3 (packaging)

.gml

GML

Standards-Compliant XML

The XML grammar of choice for cadastral and government GIS data.

OGC GML 3.2.1 / ISO 19136

.json

TopoJSON

Web Vector (Topology-Encoded)

GeoJSON's topology-aware cousin — smaller files for adjacent polygons.

TopoJSON Specification 1.0

.wkt

WKT

Text Geometry

The plain-text geometry syntax behind every spatial SQL database.

OGC Simple Features Access (ISO 19125)

.dxf

DXF

CAD Interchange

Autodesk's CAD interchange format — the bridge between AutoCAD and the world.

Autodesk DXF Reference (annual; current AC1032/AutoCAD 2018)

.csv

CSV

Tabular

Spreadsheets with latitude and longitude columns — the start of half of all GIS projects.

RFC 4180

.sql

PostGIS

Spatial Database

PostgreSQL with a spatial superpower — the database of choice for serious GIS.

OGC Simple Features for SQL on PostgreSQL