---
title: GPX file format
---

<script>
    import { Waypoints, MapPin } from 'lucide-svelte';
</script>

# { title }

The <a href="https://www.topografix.com/gpx.asp" target="_blank">GPX file format</a> is an open standard for exchanging GPS data between applications and GPS devices.
It essentially consists of a series of GPS points encoding one or multiple GPS traces, and, optionally, some points of interest.

GPX files may also contain metadata, of which the **name** and **description** fields are the most useful for users.

### <Waypoints size="16" class="inline-block" style="margin-bottom: 2px" /> Tracks, segments, and GPS points

As mentioned above, a GPX file can contain multiple GPS traces.
These are organized in a hierarchical structure, with tracks at the top level.

- A **track** is made of a sequence of disconnected segments.
  Furthermore, it can contain metadata such as a **name**, a **description**, and **appearance properties**.
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- Some devices also store additional information such as heart rate, cadence, temperature, and power.

通常，GPX 文件包含一条含有单一分段的轨迹。
However, the hierarchy described above allows for more advanced use cases, such as planning multi-day trips with several variants for each day.

### <MapPin size="16" class="inline-block" style="margin-bottom: 2px" /> Points of interest

**Points of interest** (technically called _waypoints_) represent locations of interest to show either on a GPS device or on a digital map.

In addition to its coordinates, a point of interest can have a **name** and a **description**.
