GPXs

GPX, or GPS Exchange Format, is an XML-based data format designed to facilitate the exchange of GPS data between devices, software, and online services. It is commonly used to store and share waypoints, routes, and tracks collected by consumer GPS devices, smartphones, or fitness trackers.

A GPX document uses a hierarchical structure with a root gpx element. The main data elements are wpt for waypoints, rte for routes, and trk for tracks. Each waypoint, route point, or track point includes geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) and may include elevation (ele), timestamp (time), and descriptive metadata such as name, description, or type. Tracks are made up of segments (trkseg), which are themselves sequences of track points (trkpt). The schema also allows metadata and links to describe authorship or source, and provides an optional extensions element for vendor-specific data. GPX files are plain text XML and are typically saved with the .gpx file extension; they use the WGS84 ellipsoid for coordinates and usually meters for elevation.

GPX is an open, interoperable format supported by a wide range of GPS devices, mapping software, and online services, enabling users to import, export, or synchronize geographic data. Its simplicity makes it suitable for archival storage and data exchange, though it lacks some features of more feature-rich geospatial formats and can become large for high-resolution tracks. Extensions and version updates have broadened its applicability over time.