Windows
Compatible applications
Quick Facts
Basic information about this file format
Extension
.GML
File Type
Geography Markup Language
Category
Data
Best first step
Use compatible software
Quick Summary
A practical overview of the .gml file format
Geography Markup Language (GML) is an XML grammar defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) used to express geographical features. GML serves as a modeling language for geographic systems as well as an open interchange format for geographic transactions on the Internet. It provides a variety…
File extension
.GML
File type
Geography Markup Language
Category
Data
Recommended action
Open with a trusted compatible app
How to open a .gml file
Start with a trusted app that supports this format
- Check the file extension carefully and confirm that the file name really ends with .gml.
- Use software that supports this file type. If one app does not work, try another compatible program for the same platform.
- Update the application if the file was created by a newer version of the software.
- Scan files from unknown sources before opening them, especially documents, archives, scripts, installers, and executable files.
What is a .gml file?
File extension details and usage information
Geography Markup Language (GML) is an XML grammar defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) used to express geographical features. GML serves as a modeling language for geographic systems as well as an open interchange format for geographic transactions on the Internet. It provides a variety of object types for representing geographic features, including points, lines, polygons, rasters, and coverages. GML is widely used in geographic information systems (GIS) and location-based services (LBS) for storing, transporting, and processing geographic data. It allows for the encoding of both geometric and non-geometric properties of geographic features, enabling interoperability between different GIS platforms and applications. GML is designed to be extensible, allowing users to define their own application-specific schemas and feature types. It supports complex geometries, coordinate reference systems, and metadata, making it a powerful tool for representing and exchanging geographic information.
Software Compatibility
Programs that may open or work with .gml files
macOS
Compatible applications
Linux
Compatible applications
Mobile
Mobile applications
Can .gml files be converted?
Options for saving or exporting this file to another format
In many cases, a .gml file can be converted by opening it in compatible software and using an option such as Save As, Export, or Convert. The available output formats depend on the file type and the application used.
- Use the original software that created the file when possible.
- Check whether the application supports exporting to common formats.
- Be careful with online converters when working with private, business, or sensitive files.
- If conversion fails, the file may be corrupted, incomplete, encrypted, or not actually a .gml file.
Why can't I open a .gml file?
Common reasons this file type may not open correctly
Wrong software
The file may require a specific program that supports the .gml format.
Incorrect extension
The file extension may have been renamed manually, even though the actual file format is different.
Corrupted file
The file may be incomplete, damaged during download, or transferred incorrectly.
Outdated app
Your software may need to be updated before it can open newer versions of this file format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about .gml files
To open a .gml file, use software that supports this file format.
- QGIS
- ArcGIS
- Global Mapper
- OpenJUMP
- GRASS GIS
Open the file in compatible software and look for options such as Save As, Export, or Convert. If no export option is available, the file may require a specialized converter or the original application that created it.
- Verify that the file extension is correct.
- Install or update compatible software.
- Try another application that supports this format.
- Check whether the file is corrupted, incomplete, or encrypted.
A file extension alone does not guarantee whether a file is safe or unsafe. Only open files from trusted sources, scan unknown files before opening them, and be especially careful with executable, script, archive, and document files.
File safety tips
Use caution with unknown files
Only open files from trusted sources. Before opening a .gml file, scan it with antivirus software, verify that the file extension is expected, and avoid running unknown executable, installer, macro-enabled document, or script files.