Shapefile Viewer
View and analyze ESRI Shapefiles directly in your browser with our powerful GIS mapping tool. No data ever leaves your device — everything is processed locally for complete privacy.
Why Use Our Online Shapefile Viewer
100% Private & Secure
Your geographic data never leaves your device. All processing happens locally in your browser, ensuring complete data privacy.
Powerful GIS Capabilities
Inspect feature properties, toggle layers, add feature labels, and export to GeoJSON—all the essential GIS functions you need.
No Installation Required
Skip complex GIS software installations. Our browser-based tool works on any modern device—desktop, tablet, or even mobile.
Understanding Shapefiles
Multi-File Format
A shapefile isn't actually a single file—it's a collection of related files that work together. The core components include:
- •.shp — Stores the geometric features themselves
- •.dbf — Contains attribute data for each feature
- •.shx — Index file linking geometry to attributes
- •.prj — Defines the coordinate system and projection
That's why for best results, we recommend uploading these files zipped together.
Vector Geometry
Shapefiles store vector data that represents real-world features using three fundamental geometry types:
- •Points — Single locations (e.g., cities, landmarks)
- •Lines — Linear features (e.g., roads, rivers, boundaries)
- •Polygons — Areas (e.g., countries, lakes, land parcels)
Each of these geometries can have multiple attributes attached—like names, populations, areas, or any custom data relevant to your analysis.
Industry Standard
Developed by ESRI, shapefiles became the de facto standard in GIS due to their simplicity and widespread adoption. They're used across industries for:
- •Urban planning and land management
- •Environmental monitoring and conservation
- •Transportation network analysis
- •Public health and demographic studies
- •Business intelligence and market analysis
How to Use Our Shapefile Viewer
- 1
Upload Your Shapefile
Drag and drop a .shp file or a .zip archive containing all shapefile components (.shp, .dbf, .shx, .prj). For complete data visualization, we recommend using a zip file with all components.
Pro Tip: When working with complex shapefiles, uploading a .zip file with all components ensures that attribute data and projections are properly loaded.
- 2
Explore the Interactive Map
Once loaded, your shapefile will be displayed on the interactive map. You can zoom, pan, and click on features to view their attributes in a popup. The map automatically centers on your data.
Pan & ZoomClick FeaturesToggle Labels - 3
Manage Layers and View Properties
Use the layer controls to toggle visibility of different layers. Switch to the Properties tab to browse all feature attributes in a tabular format. Select features to highlight them on the map.
Note: Multi-layered shapefiles will display each layer separately, allowing you to toggle visibility individually or view all layers simultaneously.
- 4
Export to GeoJSON
When you're ready, export your shapefile data to GeoJSON format for use in other web applications, data analysis tools, or modern mapping platforms. GeoJSON is widely supported across most mapping libraries and GIS tools.