Learn about GIS File Formats and APIs that can open and create GIS files

A GIS (Geographic Information System) map file consists of spatial or geographic information about certain location or area. A GIS mapping software is a program or set of programs that present the spatial or geographical data to viewers for visualization, analysis and management. A GIS file can be created manually, extracted from a GPS device or recorded through remote sensing devices and applications. GIS finds it usage in almost all fields of life; from agriculture to town planning, resources analysis, urban planning and for creation of strategies to solve problems.

Common GIS file extensions and their file formats include GPX (GPS Exchange File Format), KML (Keyhole Markup Language File) and SHP (ESRI Shapefile).

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List of GIS File Extensions and Associated File Formats

Following is a list of common GIS file formats along with their file extensions.

USR File Format - Lowrance GPS Data File

Learn about USR format and APIs that can create and open USR files. Read More »

LAS - Lidar LASer File Format

Learn about LAS file format and APIs that can create and open LAS files. Read More »

LAZ - Compressed LIDAR Data Exchange File

Learn about LAZ file format and APIs that can create and open LAZ files. Read More »

CSF File - GeoMedia Coordinate System File Format

Learn about CSF file format and APIs that can create and open CSF files. Read More »

LAN File - ERDAS LAN File Format

Learn about LAN file format and APIs that can create and open LAN files. Read More »

DIX File - DIVA-GIS Export File Format

Learn about DIX file format and APIs that can create and open DIX files. Read More »

MSD File - Map Service Definition File Format

Learn about MSD file format and APIs that can create and open MSD files. Read More »

3DC File - iGO 3D Building File

Learn about 3DC GIS file format and APIs that can create and open 3DC files. Read More »

AXE File - AutoRoute Map File Format

What is an AXE file? Learn about AXE file format and its file structure. Read More »

HDR File- ESRI BIL Header File Format

What is an HDR file? Read More »

MID File - MapInfo Interchange File Format

Learn about MID File Format and APIs to create and open MID files. Read More »

MIF File - MapInfo Interchange File Format

Learn about MIF File Format and APIs to create and open MIF files. Read More »

CXF File - Coordinates Export Format

Learn about CXF file format and APIs that can create and open CXF files. Read More »

OSC - OpenStreetMap Change File Format

Learn about OSC file format and APIs that can create and open OSC files. Read More »

PMF File - ESRI Published Map File Format

Learn about PMF file format and APIs that can create and open PMF files. Read More »

GSM File- MapViewer Project File Format

Learn about GSM file format and APIs that can create and open GSM files. Read More »

GST File- MapInfo Geoset File Format

Learn about GST file format and APIs that can create and open GST files. Read More »

PTM File - MapPoint Map File Format

Learn about PTM file format and APIs that can create and open PTM files. Read More »

MPK File - ArcGIS Map Package File Format

Learn about MPK file format and APIs that can create and open MPK files. Read More »

MXD File - ArcGIS Map Document File Format

Learn about MXD file format and APIs that can create and open MXD files. Read More »

NMC - Navitel Map File

Learn about NMC file format and APIs that can create and open NMC files. Read More »

DT0 File - DTED Level 0 File Format

Learn about DT0 file format and APIs that can create and open DT0 files. Read More »

DT1 File - DTED Level 1 File Format

Learn about DT1 file format and APIs that can create and open DT1 files. Read More »

DT2 File - DTED Level 2 File Format

Learn about DT2 file format and APIs that can create and open DT2 files. Read More »

MXT File - ArcGIS Map Template File Format

Learn about MXT file format and APIs that can create and open MXT files. Read More »

AVL - ArcView Legend File

Learn about AVL file format and APIs that can create and open AVL files. Read More »

BT File - Binary Terrain File Format

What is a BT File? Read More »

WLX File- MapSource Web Link File Format

Learn about WLX file format and APIs that can create and open WLX files. Read More »

WOR File- MapInfo Workspace File Format

Learn about WOR file format and APIs that can create and open WOR files. Read More »

3DL File - iGO Landmark File Format

Learn about 3DL GIS file format and APIs that can create and open 3DL files. Read More »

GMAP File Format - Garmin Map File

Learn about GMAP file format and APIs that can create and open GMAP files. Read More »

FIT File Format- Garmin Activity File

Learn about FIT file format and APIs that can create and open FIT files. Read More »

FMW File - FME Workbench File Format

Learn about FMW file format and APIs that can create and open FMW files. Read More »

TCX File Format- Training Center XML File

Learn about TCX file format and APIs that can create and open TCX files. Read More »

TFRD File - Tape Image Format Requirements Document File

Learn about TFRD file format and APIs that can create and open TFRD files. Read More »

MPS File Format - Pocket Streets Map File

Learn about MPS file format and APIs that can create and open MPS files. Read More »

3D - Survex 3D Cavern File

Learn about 3D GIS file format and APIs that can create and open 3D files. Read More »

3DD - ArcGlobe Document

Learn about 3DD GIS file format and APIs that can create and open 3DD files. Read More »

ADF - ESRI ArcInfo Binary Grid Format

Learn about ADF file format and APIs that can create and open ADF files. Read More »

APL - ArcPad Layer File

Learn about APL file format and APIs that can create and open APL files. Read More »

APR - ArcView Project File

Learn about what is an APR file and APIs that can create and open APL files. Read More »

GLB - STK Globe File

Learn about GLB file format and APIs that can create and open GLB files. Read More »

IMG - Garmin Map File

Learn about what is an IMG file and APIs that can create and open IMG files. Read More »

ATX - ArcGIS Attribute Index File

Learn about ATX file format and APIs that can create and open ATX files. Read More »

AUX - Auxiliary File

Learn about AUX file format and APIs that can create and open AUX files. Read More »

DEM - Digital Elevation Model File

Learn about DEM file format and APIs that can create and open DEM files. Read More »

DIV - DIVA-GIS Project File

Learn about DIV file format and APIs that can create and open DIV files. Read More »

EMBR - Spatial Geodatabase File Format

Learn about EMBR file format and APIs that can create and open EMBR files. Read More »

ETA - Google Earth Placemark File

Learn about ETA file format and APIs that can create and open ETA files. Read More »

NM2 - Navitel Map File

Learn about NM2 file format and APIs that can create and open NM2 files. Read More »

SAF File - Street Atlas USA Map File Format

Learn about SAF file format and APIs that can create and open SAF files. Read More »

SBN - ESRI Spatial Index Binary File

Learn about SBN file format and APIs that can create and open SBN files. Read More »

SDF File - Spatial Data Format File

Learn about SDF file format and APIs that can create and open SDF files. Read More »

SP3 - NGS SP3 File

Learn about SP3 file format and APIs that can create and open SP3 files. Read More »

SSF - Trimble Standard Storage Format File

Learn about SSF file format and APIs that can create and open SSF files. Read More »

DLG - Shapefile Shape Index Format

Learn about DLG file format and APIs that can create and open DLG files. Read More »

GPKG - GeoPackage Format Files

Learn about GPKG file format and APIs that can create and open GPKG files. Read More »

SHX - Shapefile Shape Index Format

Learn about SHX file format and APIs that can create and open SHX files. Read More »

NTF - National Transfer Format Files

Learn about NTF file format and APIs that can create and open NTF files. Read More »

LOC - GPS Location File Format

Learn about LOC file format and APIs that can create and open LOC files. Read More »

QGD - Sqlite Database of the QGIS Project

Learn about QGD which is an sqlite database of the QGIS project and APIs that can create and open QGD files. Read More »

QGZ - Quantum GIS Compressed Project

Learn about QGZ file format which is just a compressed QGS and APIs that can create and open QGZ files. Read More »

S57 - Electronic Navigation Charts File

Learn about S57 file format and APIs that can create and open S57 files. Read More »

E00 - ArcInfo Interchange File Format

Learn about E00 file format and APIs that can create and open E00 files. Read More »

GeoJSON - JSON based Geographic File Format

Learn about GeoJSON file format and APIs that can create and open GeoJSON files. Read More »

GML - Geography Markup Language File Format

Learn about GML file format and APIs that can create and open GML files. Read More »

GPX - GPX Exchange File Format

Learn about GPX file format and APIs that can create and open GPX files. Read More »

KML - Keyhole Markup Language

Learn about KML file format and APIs that can create and open KML files. Read More »

KMZ - KML Zipped File Format

Learn about KMZ file format and APIs that can create and open KMZ files. Read More »

OSM - OpenStreetMap File Format

Learn about OSM file format and APIs that can create and open OSM files. Read More »

QGS - QGIS Project File Format

Learn about QGS file format and APIs that can create and open QGS files. Read More »

QLR - QGIS Layer Definition File

Learn about QLR file format and APIs that can create and open QLR files. Read More »

QML - The QGIS Style File Format

Learn about QML file format and APIs that can create and open QML files. Read More »

SHP - ESRI Shapefile

Learn about SHP file format and APIs that can create and open SHP files. Read More »