FileGDB (ESRI File Geodatabase) is a geodatabase storage format commonly used in ArcGIS workflows. A FileGDB is typically a folder-based dataset with multiple internal tables and indexes, and it’s often shared as a .zip archive.
Quick answer: FileGDB is Esri’s folder-based geodatabase format for multiple feature classes, tables, and indexes. Because it is usually distributed as a folder or ZIP, upload the complete archive and use the FileGDB to GeoJSON converter to preview a layer.
To inspect one in the browser, convert it to GeoJSON and preview the result: /filegdb-to-geojson/.
What FileGDB is used for
FileGDB is commonly used for:
- Managing multi-layer GIS datasets in ArcGIS ecosystems
- Storing attributes and related tables
- Sharing structured datasets that include indexes and metadata
Common issues when opening FileGDB
- FileGDB is usually multi-file. Uploading a single internal file is rarely enough.
- Many distributions require zipping the folder before upload.
- Some datasets are large and can be slow to load in a browser.
How to open FileGDB online
- Go to /filegdb-to-geojson/.
- Upload a zipped
.gdbfolder (or the archive you received). - Select the layer you want to preview and inspect attributes.
Convert FileGDB to other formats
- FileGDB to GeoJSON: /filegdb-to-geojson/
- FileGDB to GeoPackage: /filegdb-to-gpkg/
- FileGDB to Shapefile: /filegdb-to-shapefile/
Related reading
- Comparison: /blog/filegdb-vs-geopackage/