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Convert ESRI Shapefile to MBTiles

Use this tool to convert ESRI Shapefile to mbtiles with various options such as Geometry Type, Projections, Line separator, etc. Upload a .zip containing .shp, .shx, .prj and .dbf files.

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What is ESRI Shapefile?

An ESRI Shapefile is a widely used file format for storing geospatial vector data developed by Esri. It consists of multiple files that together represent a single layer or dataset. The Shapefile format can store various types of geometric data such as points, lines, and polygons, along with their associated attributes.

Here's a breakdown of the components typically found in an ESRI Shapefile:

  1. .shp (Shapefile): This file contains the geometry data, including points, lines, or polygons representing geographic features.
  2. .shx (Shape Index): This file is an index file that stores the index of the records in the shapefile. It helps in quickly accessing specific records in the shapefile.
  3. .dbf (Attribute Table): This file stores attribute data associated with the geometric features in the shapefile. It is typically in dBASE format and can contain attribute information such as names, IDs, population counts, etc.
  4. .prj (Projection File): This file contains the coordinate system and projection information for the spatial data stored in the shapefile. It defines how the geographic data should be interpreted and displayed on maps.
  5. .sbn and .sbx (Spatial Index): These files are optional spatial index files that provide a spatial index to improve the performance of spatial queries on the shapefile. They are not always present in every Shapefile.

Each of these files plays a specific role in storing and managing geospatial data within the Shapefile format. Together, they allow for the storage of both geometric and attribute data, making it a versatile and widely used format in the GIS (Geographic Information System) community.

What is MBTiles?

MBTiles is a file format used for storing map tiles in a single file. It stands for "MapBox Tiles" because it was originally developed by MapBox.

Here's an overview of its key characteristics:

  1. Compactness: MBTiles files are designed to be compact and efficient for storing map tiles. They can contain a large number of tiles within a single file, making it easier to distribute and manage map data.
  2. Portability: Since MBTiles files encapsulate all the necessary map tiles within a single file, they are highly portable. They can be easily shared, transferred, and used across different mapping platforms and applications.
  3. Tile Pyramid Structure: MBTiles files typically store map tiles in a pyramid structure, with different zoom levels organized hierarchically. This structure allows for efficient rendering of maps at different zoom levels.
  4. Support for Vector Tiles: While originally designed for raster tiles, MBTiles format has been extended to support vector tiles as well. Vector tiles store geographic data in a compact binary format, enabling dynamic rendering and interactivity on web maps and mobile applications.
  5. Compatibility: MBTiles files are supported by a wide range of mapping tools, libraries, and platforms, including MapBox GL, Leaflet, OpenLayers, and many others. They can be used for offline mapping, caching map data, and creating custom map layers.

Overall, MBTiles is a popular and versatile format for storing map tiles, offering advantages in terms of compactness, portability, and compatibility across different mapping applications and platforms.