| File Formats for GIS | Name | Description |
| Vector Data | ||
| .kml | Google KML File | Is a XML-based plaintext file that may contain geometry, data, or a pointer to a web service |
| .kmz | Compressed KML | Same as above, but compressed. You can uncomrpess this with 7zip (free/open) and you will see plaintext KML |
| .gpx | GPS data file | XML-based GPS data file, usually coming from a GPS device. |
| .gdb | File Geodatabase (Directory) | Esri File Geodatabase can be used to store vector and raster data as well as more complex data containing topologies, and other supporting files. The File Geodatase is a directory, which contains many files which can not be read on their own |
| .mdb | Personal Geodatabase/MS Access Database | Esri Personal Geodatabase format |
| .sqlite | Sqlite/Spatialite Database | Extension is optional for this format, but is often .sqlite. Spatialite is an an extenion to sqlite which spatialally enables it. This format is often used with QGIS. |
| Shapefile | Has traditionally been the “standard” vector format for ArcGIS. Is actually a collection of files, not a single file, all in the same directory, with the same file base name (the name without the extension). When viewed in an ArcGIS filesystem dialog, is usually displayed as a single file. | |
| .shp | Shapefile | Main file that stores the data geometry. Sometimes somewhat confusingly refered to a as a shapefile. |
| .shx | Shapefile index file | Shapefile index file |
| .dbf | Shapefile data file | Shapefile data file which stores attribute data. It’s actually a tabular format called dBASE, which can be read on its own, in other programs. |
| .prj | Shapefile projection file | (Optional) Stores spatial reference and projection metadata. It’s a plaintext file that can be read on its own. |
| Other shapefile supporting files | Shapefiles can also include many other file formats such as .xml, .sbn, .sbx, etc., which are often used for indexes or some other metadata | |
| .E00 | ArcInfo Coverage | A legacy file format |
| Raster Data | ||
| .tif, .tfw | TIFF and TIFF World File, GeoTIFF | Uncompressed image data which, when associated in a directory with a tfw (“world file”) of the same file basename, is a GeoTIFF, georeferenced image. |
| .jp2, .jpw, .jpx | JPEG 2000 | Compressed image data often georeferenced. Sometimes includes an associated jpw (“world file”) of the same basename (see .tfw for info). .jpx can contain additional metadata. |
| .jpg | JPEG | Lossy compressed image data which, when associated in a directory with a jpw (“world file”) of the same file basename, is a GeoJPEG, georeferenced image. |
| .png | Ping, Portable Network Graphic | Non-georeferenced lossless compressed image data which, when associated in a directory with a pgw (“world file”) of the same file basename, is a GeoJPEG, georeferenced image. |
| ArcInfo ASCII Grid | Directory-based | |
| .asc | ASCII grid | A grid file in plaintext (ASCII) format |
| .bnd | Grid Boundary file | The extent/boundary metadata for the grid |
| .hdr | Grid Header file | Grid metadata such as cell size |
| .sta | Grid Statistics file | Grid cell statistics |
| .vat | Grid attribute table | The equivalent of a grid attribute table, for integer grids only. Stores attributes based on zones. |
| Tabular | ||
| .dbf | dBASE data file | Is often associated with a shapefile (see above), but is sometimes standalone tabular data which can be opened in older versions of Excel or Access. |
| .csv | comma delimited file | Plaintext tabular data delimited by comma. Can sometimes be directly improted (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS). |
| .xls | Excel file | MS Excel data/spreadsheet format. Can be directly read into some programs (e.g., ArcGIS) but is sometimes buggy. |
| .txt | text file | Plaintext, often delimited with tabs, commas, pipes, or semi-colons. Can sometimes be directly imported, but will often need to be translated to a native tabular format for the software being used (e.g., dbf) |
| GIS Program Files | These do not contain data, only configuration information | |
| .qgs | QGIS project | Similar to ArcGIS mxd .. Saved workspace configuration (a “map”) including pointers to layer data, symbology, data frame properties, and layout properties, as well as other miscellenous settings |
| ArcGIS | ||
| .mxd | Map Document | Saved workspace configuration (a “map”) including pointers to layer data, symbology, data frame properties, and layout properties, as well as other miscellenous settings |
| .mxt | Map Template | Contains settings that would normally be made to a map document, but for reuse in new map documents |
| .lyr | Layer File | Symbology settings for a data layer. If name is the same as a related data source in the same directory, will automatically display |
| .loc | Locator File | Used for geocoding (Addresses) |