Shapefile

The shapefile format is a geospatial vector <a href="/facts/GIS_file_formats/nfG1rVIP">data format for geographic information system (GIS) software</a>. It is developed and regulated by <a href="/facts/Esri/FP8cJykD">Esri</a> as a mostly <a href="/facts/Open_standard/RGvhGQVI">open specification</a> for data interoperability among Esri and other <a href="/facts/Geographic_information_system/PoP1kVoa">GIS software products</a>. The shapefile format can spatially describe <a href="/facts/Vector_graphics/y8ok7M2P">vector</a> features: <a href="/facts/Point_(geometry)/6YPAvX2a">points</a>, <a href="/facts/Polyline/GRQ6BMQS">lines</a>, and <a href="/facts/Polygons/yAq7RjPz">polygons</a>, representing, for example, <a href="/facts/Water_well/aPFvzk3V">water wells</a>, <a href="/facts/River/GxdjEX21">rivers</a>, and <a href="/facts/Lake/YP0xxn0E">lakes</a>. Each item usually has <a href="/facts/Attribute_(computing)/EpQSmn02">attributes</a> that describe it, such as name or temperature.

Shapefile open-in-new

Shapefile