FamilySearch GEDCOM, or simply GEDCOM (/ˈdʒɛdkɒm/ JED-kom, acronym of Genealogical Data Communication), is an open file format and the de facto standard specification for storing genealogical data.[3]
GEDCOM: The Essential File Format for Genealogy Data
GEDCOM stands for Genealogical Data Communication. GEDCOM is a universal file format that lets you share data across multiple family history programs. Originally software developed by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, GEDCOM acts like a bridge. It lets you share research data without having to copy each detail manually.
The GEDCOM format is a simple text structure. It keeps your birth date, family relationships, and other facts in a clear system.
| Initial release | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Latest release | 7.0; 2026 |
what is GEDCOM - Google Search
GEDCOM (an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication) is a universal, plain-text file format used to share family tree information. It allows you to export your genealogy research from one software program or website (like Ancestry, MyHeritage, or RootsMagic) and import it into another without losing your data. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
How GEDCOM Works
- Universal Translator: Because almost all genealogy software and platforms use different internal coding, transferring a family tree directly is difficult. GEDCOM acts as a universal bridge, translating the data into a standard format that any platform can read. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- What it saves: It stores the core textual data of your family tree, including names, dates of birth/marriage/death, places, family relationships, and source citations. [1, 2] What it does not save: GEDCOM files contain text only. They do not embed or attach media files like scanned documents, audio recordings, or photographs (though newer versions allow external linking to these files).
Why It's Useful
- Switching Platforms: If you outgrow your current family tree software, a GEDCOM allows you to migrate to a new program without having to manually re-enter years of research. [1]
- Collaboration: You can easily send your family tree data via email or flash drive to a relative who uses a completely different genealogy program. [1, 2]
- Offline Backups: Creating a GEDCOM file is one of the safest ways to back up your hard work to your local computer, protecting it from software obsolescence or website shutdowns. [1, 2]
Visual Websites (Web-Based Wrappers)
Most people use cloud-based platforms to import their files and view them instantly.
- Ancestry: The largest genealogy platform. You can upload a GEDCOM file directly into your account to instantly generate an interactive, searchable tree complete with automated historical record hints.
- MyHeritage: Excellent international database matching. It provides a visual dashboard for your tree and automatically applies photo enhancement and colorization tools to the people in your uploaded file. [1]
- FamilySearch: A massive, free collaborative platform. While they use a single shared global tree rather than private individual files, they offer a specialized "Genealogies" upload tool to compare your GEDCOM file against their master database. [1]
Local Desktop Apps (Software Wrappers)
If you prefer to keep your data private on your own computer without putting it online, desktop applications offer robust editing dashboards.
- RootsMagic: A highly popular database app for Windows and Mac. It features a clean, tabbed interface to manage complex family relationships, media, and source citations parsed directly from your file. [1]
- Legacy Family Tree: A Windows-based program famous for its powerful report-generation wizards. It turns your plain text data into beautiful, printable pedigree charts and narrative text books. [1]
- MacFamilyTree: A visually stunning wrapper exclusively built for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It takes the rigid data structure of a file and renders it into modern, animated 3D virtual trees and interactive globes showing where your ancestors lived.
Free Web Viewers & Converters
If you just have a file on your computer and want to look at it quickly without creating an account or buying software, you can use browser-based tools. [1]
- FTAnalyzer: A free, open-source desktop tool that reads your file and gives you a data-driven report. It flags errors (like a mother born after her child) and shows census progress.
- GEDCOM Viewer Apps: Simple browser tools where you drag and drop your file. It instantly renders the data into a readable index of names, dates, and basic family charts entirely offline in your browser.
