There are 7 other file types using
the SHP file extension!

shp icon.shp - AutoCAD shape file or source file for text fonts

empty icon.shp - CARE-S InfoWorks pipe cross-section data

empty icon.shp - Clarion for Windows ship list

empty icon.shp - Command & Conquer game data

empty icon.shp - PrintMaster icon library

empty icon.shp - Blazing Paddles shape table

empty icon.shp - Movie Maker shape

SHP file extension - ESRI ArcView shapefile

What is shp file? How to open shp files?

File type specification:

GIS, GPS navigation and map file type icon GIS, GPS navigation and map file type

File extension shp is used for ESRI Shape format, a popular geospatial vector data format for geographic information systems software. It is developed and regulated by ESRI as a (mostly) open specification for data interoperability among ESRI and other software products.

A shapefile stores non-topological geometry and attribute information for the spatial features in a data set. A shapefile consists of a set of 3 mandatory files, along with several optional files.

Each file in the set shares the shapefile name with a different extension. The main file .shp stores the geometry and must always have an index file shx. A dBASE file dbf stores all the attributes of the shapes in the main file. Additionally, a projection file prj stores the projection information.

There is also shp shape file used by AutoDesk programs. But that is different format just sharing the same file extension.

Updated: March 24, 2024

The default software associated to open shp file:

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView) icon

Esri logoArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView)  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Esri

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (formerly known as ArcView) is GIS (geographic information system) application used to visualizing, managing, creating, and analyzing geographic data.

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic is a part of the ArcGIS Desktop. ArcGIS for Desktop Basic supports creation of interactive maps, spatial analysis, GIS deployment, map viewing and navigation, map printing etc.

Help how to open:

Use ESRI ArcView to work with the *.shp files.

How to convert:

Shape files can probably be exported to several other formats using ESRI software.

Find conversions from shp file:

shp to ai

shp to csv

shp to eps

shp to jpg

shp to svg

shp to tiff

shp to xls

Find converter to shp file type:

apr to shp

csv to shp

dem to shp

gml to shp

gpx to shp

ncz to shp

pdf to shp

File identification strings:

HEX code: 00 00 27 0A 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
ASCII code: '

Related links:

Shapefile Technical Description

List of software applications associated to the .shp file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open shp file, edit shp file, convert shp file, view shp file, play shp file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting shp files.

Software that open shp file - ESRI ArcView shapefile

Programs supporting the exension shp on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open shp file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with shp file by default:
ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView) small icon ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView)
Other suggested software:
MapViewer
FME DESKTOP

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Multiplatform:

Previous file extension
SGRD file extension

File-Extensions.org > GIS, GPS navigation and map file types

Next file extension
file extension SID

 

Enter any file extension without dot (e.g. pdf)
Search for file extension details and associated application(s)

RSS feed