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Shapefile

Definition

A shapefile is a widely used vector data format created by Esri that stores geometry and attributes for points, lines, and polygons. Despite the singular name, it consists of several files that must travel together, including shapes, spatial index, and attribute table. Shapefiles lack modern features such as UTF 8 by default, large field names, and advanced topology, yet they remain common for exchange due to broad support. Understanding the strengths and limits of the format prevents data loss and frustration.

Application

Analysts use shapefiles for quick sharing and for legacy systems that do not support newer formats. Small projects and educational exercises rely on the simplicity of the format. However, many organizations are migrating to geopackage and flat geobuf for better performance and robustness while maintaining interoperability with shapefile users.

FAQ

What files are required for a shapefile to function correctly?

The minimum set is SHP for geometry, SHX for index, and DBF for attributes, plus PRJ for coordinate reference. Optional files such as SBN and CPG add indexing and encoding. Losing any of the core trio usually breaks the dataset.

What are common pitfalls when storing attribute data in shapefiles?

Field names are limited to ten characters and data types are constrained. Text encoding can corrupt non Latin scripts unless a code page file is present. Large integers and dates should be checked after export to ensure they survived correctly.

How do shapefiles handle topology and multipart features?

They store simple geometries without enforced topology. Multipart features are allowed but topological rules such as no overlaps or gaps are not built in. Validate with separate tools if topology matters for your analysis.

When should you prefer a modern alternative to shapefile?

When you need long field names, large files, transactions, or unified storage in one file. Geopackage stores everything in a SQLite container and supports raster, while flat geobuf streams well on the web. Choose the format that matches your performance and collaboration needs.