Shapefiles

Definition

A shapefile is a digital file format used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to store geospatial vector data. Shapefiles can represent points, lines and polygons, making them essential for mapping administrative boundaries, and other areas. They typically consist of multiple files, including:

.shp (geometry)
.dbf (attributes)
.shx (index)

Also known as

GIS shapefile, spatial dataset

Relevance to OCSI

Shapefiles are used to visualise place-based data, and create boundaries within a GIS such as Local Insight.

Author

Katie Leach
Senior Research and Communication Officer

Turning survey analysis for Parent Carer Forums into support for SEND families

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Differences in deprivation measures – A comparison of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and Census ‘Household Deprivation’ indicators

Definition

Also known as

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