8.4 File Formats
File formats can either store vector or raster data, while spatial databases such as PostGIS can store both
Goo - dal : the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library, provides access to more than 200 vector and raster data formats
including ESRI shapefiles (multifile, limitations, proprietary), KML, GeoJSON, GPX, GeoTIFF (raster), and many more
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), founded in 1994
Open file formats of the kind endorsed by the OGC have several advantages over proprietary formats:
the standards are published, ensure transparency and open up the possibility for users to further develop and adjust the file formats to their specific needs