Shapefile Viewer
View ESRI Shapefiles on an interactive map
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Shapefile is a geospatial vector data format developed by ESRI for geographic information system (GIS) software. It stores non-topological geometry and attribute information for spatial features. Upload as a ZIP archive containing the .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj files.
Shapefiles are commonly used for:
- GIS analysis
- Urban planning
- Environmental science
- Government data and census mapping
Shapefile Viewer Features
- Interactive Map VisualizationExplore geographic features on a fully interactive map
- Attribute TableBrowse the DBF attribute data for every feature
- Feature PopupsClick any feature to inspect its properties
- Auto-ZoomAutomatically fits the map to your data bounds
Shapefile Viewer FAQ
What is a Shapefile?
A Shapefile is a geospatial vector data format developed by ESRI. It stores geometry (points, lines, polygons) along with attribute data describing each feature. It is the most widely used format for GIS data exchange.
Why upload as ZIP?
A Shapefile actually consists of multiple files (.shp, .shx, .dbf, .prj, etc.) that must be kept together. Uploading as a ZIP archive ensures all required companion files are included and correctly associated.
What companion files are needed?
A complete Shapefile requires at minimum: .shp (geometry), .shx (spatial index), and .dbf (attributes). The .prj file (coordinate system) is highly recommended for correct map placement. Optional files include .cpg, .sbn, and .sbx.
What are DBF attributes?
The .dbf file contains the attribute table — tabular data associated with each geographic feature. This can include names, IDs, measurements, classifications, and any other descriptive information stored as columns and rows.