Geographic Information System/Vector Formats
Shapefiles
[edit | edit source]A shapefile is a common data format for storing vector data that spatially describes geometries such as points, lines, and polygons. In a shapefile, each object, or record, must also have attributes that describe them. It is important to note that a shapefile can only hold one geometric type. That means, that a shapefile can hold only points, or only lines, or only polygons.