gpxxsd

gpxxsd refers to the XML Schema Definition (XSD) for the GPX (GPS Exchange Format). An XSD for GPX provides a formal specification of the structure and data types used in GPX files, enabling validation and interoperability across GPS devices and software.

GPX is an XML format for exchanging geospatial data such as waypoints, routes, and tracks. The GPX schema defines the root element gpx (with version and creator attributes) and the main child elements: metadata, wpt for waypoints, rte for routes (containing rtept), and trk for tracks (containing trkseg and trkpt). Each point carries latitude and longitude as required attributes, and may include elevation (ele), timestamp (time), and descriptive fields such as name, desc, and type. The schema specifies data types (for example, lat/long as decimal degrees; time as ISO 8601) and constraints on occurrences and sequences.

Versioning and compatibility: GPX has versions such as 1.0 and 1.1. The XSDs published for these versions enforce the corresponding grammar. Validation against gpxxsd lets tools verify that a GPX file conforms to the standard, helping ensure consistent parsing.

Usage: Developers and GIS applications use the GPX XSD to parse and validate GPX data, generate GPX files, or convert between formats. Many libraries and editors include built-in GPX validation against the XSD. Some projects host official or community-contributed GPX schemas, and variations or extensions may exist, which can affect cross-system compatibility.

See also: GPX, XML Schema, XSD, GPS, GIS data exchange.