Shapefile Validator
Validate a zipped ESRI Shapefile for required components and spatial correctness.
Upload a ZIP archive containing your ESRI Shapefile to verify it contains the mandatory components (.shp, .shx, .dbf), an optional projection file (.prj), and valid binary geometry headers. Our GDAL validator parses the internal file structure and reports layer statistics, geometry types, coordinate reference system information, and any structural errors found in the archive.
Drag file here to validate, or select file
Supported: .zip • Max 50MB
What We Validate
- Presence of required components: .shp, .shx, .dbf inside the ZIP root
- Valid Shapefile binary header (magic number and version)
- Geometry type code in the .shp header (point, line, polygon, multi-patch)
- Projection definition via .prj file (warnings if missing)
- Feature count and attribute schema from the .dbf table
- Coordinate extents in the .shp bounding box header
Common Issues Detected
- Missing .dbf or .shx file inside the ZIP archive
- Shapefile components nested inside a sub-folder instead of the ZIP root
- Missing .prj file causing unknown coordinate reference system
- Corrupted binary geometry records in the .shp component
- Attribute field names exceeding the 10-character dBASE limit
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to upload a ZIP file?
An ESRI Shapefile is a multi-file format. The minimum required components (.shp, .shx, .dbf) must be packaged together in a single ZIP archive for web upload and validation.
What happens if my .prj file is missing?
The validator will flag a warning about an undefined coordinate reference system. The file can still be valid structurally, but spatial operations may produce incorrect results without a CRS definition.
Can I validate a Shapefile with multiple geometry layers?
An ESRI Shapefile supports exactly one geometry layer per file set. If you have multiple layers, they must be separate Shapefile sets. The validator will report the single layer found.