THE FILE FIELD GUIDE

.gpx

GPX GPS Data

Maps & GPS

GPX stores waypoints, routes and recorded tracks as XML. A planned route differs from a recorded sequence of track points. Time or elevation may be absent; a displayed line alone does not establish an accurate travel log or navigable route.

What it is used for: Exchange of waypoints, planned routes and recorded tracks
What the file contains: Text

All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed：2026-10-12 · Editor：Kai

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

Load GPX as map layers

Distinguish routes, tracks and waypoints.

Add a copy to a compatible map application such as QGIS.
Select the available waypoint, route or track layers.
Zoom to the full extent and inspect start/end locations.

Inspect track and time data

Time/elevation fields may be absent.

Inspect available coordinates, times and elevations.
Check segments, ordering and sudden jumps.
Compare displayed timezone with recording conditions.

Deliver to navigation software

A recorded track is not necessarily a navigable route.

Identify which GPX object type the recipient uses.
Export the required layer separately.
Check location, ordering and required points in the destination.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

No route: check track/route support and selected layers.
Jumping line: inspect segment breaks/missing points; avoid joining disconnected spans.
Time shift: compare timestamp offsets and display time zones.
Nothing visible: inspect layer selection, extent and actual point content.
Time differs by hours: compare stored time and display timezone.
Navigation takes another road: distinguish track display from route recalculation.

GPX → KML / GeoJSON / coordinate table

Select required points/tracks and use a supported GIS export.
Compare locations, counts, segments, times and elevation.
Validate point counts, segmentation and time fields, not only locations.

Vendor extensions, times, sensor data and segmentation may change; a map image does not replace the GPS records.

Identify waypoint, route and track roles

Inspect element types rather than treating every imported object as the same path.

Inspect segment breaks and recording provenance before joining tracks.

Source for these steps：Topografix · GPX 1.1 Schema Documentation / QGIS Project · Opening Data

Review location and time before sharing

Review recorded locations and timestamps and prepare only the required sharing extent in a copy.

Compare start/end points, segments, times and point counts at the destination.

Source for these steps：Topografix · GPX 1.1 Schema Documentation / QGIS Project · Opening Data

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
Format	Main role	What to check
GPX track	Recorded path	Segments/times
GPX route	Route points	Routing behavior
KML / GeoJSON	Other geographic data	Attribute/time preservation

Handling and security

Tracks can reveal homes, workplaces and travel times; inspect endpoints/timestamps and export only the intended public extent.

Questions and answers

Does it contain a map image?

Usually it holds records; the app supplies the background map.

Are routes and tracks identical?

Distinguish planned routes from recorded points.

Does it always include time?

Time and elevation may be absent.

Which layer should I choose after GPX import?

Choose waypoints, routes or tracks according to the stored content and purpose.

Can every GPX provide accurate speed?

Check times, sampling and GPS errors; without time data, elapsed-time speed is unavailable.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type

Formal name: GPS Exchange Format
Steward / specification: Topografix
MIME type: Depends on the producer or server; an extension alone does not establish a MIME type.

Primary and official sources

Official documentationGPX 1.1 Schema Documentation
Defines waypoints, routes, tracks and WGS84 coordinates.
Topografix · Link checked：2026-10-12
Official documentationOpening Data
Load vector and GPX data as layers.
QGIS Project · Link checked：2026-10-12