What Is a .geojson File? .geojson Format, MIME & How to Open

Quick facts

Extension.geojson

File typeGeoJSON Data File

MIME typeapplication/geo+json

CategoryData & Text

Charset—

CompressibleYes

Format familyjson

What is .geojson

What is a .geojson file?

A .geojson file is a GeoJSON Data File — JSON-based format for encoding geographic features and geometry.

In the mime-db registry it maps to application/geo+json, and it is marked as compressible. When serving .geojson over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to application/geo+json and is used by JSON among others — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .geojson files

Use QGIS or Mapbox to open and edit .geojson files.
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: application/geo+json

Common software that reads/writes .geojson:

QGISMapboxVS Code

Relation chain

.geojsonextension of

format

jsonserved as

mime type

application/geo+jsonsent via header

http header

Related extensions

JSON5 Configuration File

Related MIME types

application/geo+json

.geojson

Related programming languages

JSON

.json .4DForm .4DProject

Common uses

Configuration files
Data interchange between systems
API request and response payloads
Logs and data exports

How to edit .geojson files

Open the file with QGIS, make your changes and save.
Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .geojson files

Create a new file and save it with the .geojson extension, or export this format from QGIS.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .geojson files?

Common options include QGIS, Mapbox, VS Code. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .geojson file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .geojson extension.

What is the relationship between .geojson and the application/geo+json MIME type?

application/geo+json is the media type identifier used for .geojson files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-08-18

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