A shapefile is a vector data format for storing geographic location, shape and other characteristics of a geographic feature. The format, introduced in the early ‘90s by ESRI, does not store topological information. The strengths of a shapefile are found in its relative simplicity. By adhering mainly to a focus on data points, lines and polygons along with other data attributes, extensive geographic data representations can be created. Since these files lack a topographical data structure, they deliver faster drawing and editing capabilities and also require less digital storage space.
The actual shapefile file with the extension .shp has little use without the support of two other files (.shx and .dbf) that are always paired with it.
The term is also sometimes erroneously used interchangeably with the term “polygon.” However, shapefiles are used to support point, line and area features with the latter being represented by double-digitized polygons, hence the confusion.
Shapefiles can be read and edited with GIS software from a variety of sources.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
