GEDCOMstandard

GEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunication) is a file format standard used for exchanging genealogical data between different computer programs. Developed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the late 1980s, its primary purpose was to facilitate the sharing of family history information without requiring users to adopt a single, proprietary software.

The GEDCOM standard defines a structured way to represent genealogical information, including individuals, families, events, sources, and notes. It uses a simple text-based format with tags and indentation to represent the hierarchical relationships within genealogical data. This structure allows software developers to create programs that can both read and write GEDCOM files, ensuring interoperability.

Key elements within a GEDCOM file include individual records, which contain details like names, dates, and places of birth, marriage, and death. Family records link individuals together as parents and children. Event tags record specific occurrences and their associated data. Sources can be cited to provide evidence for the information presented.

While widely adopted, the GEDCOM standard has undergone revisions to accommodate new genealogical research methods and data types. Its continued use allows researchers to move their family tree data between various genealogy software applications, online databases, and research tools, promoting a more collaborative and accessible approach to preserving and sharing family history.