GPX is GPS data in an XML file
GPX means GPS Exchange Format. It is an XML format used to exchange waypoints, routes and tracks between applications. A .gpx file stores data rather than a picture of a map. Opening it in a text editor shows tags; a GPX viewer turns the coordinates into visible points and lines.
For example, a hiking recording may appear as one track, while a saved meeting place may be a separate waypoint. The same file can contain both. The filename alone does not tell you which objects are inside.
Coordinates are only part of the recording
GPX uses WGS84 coordinates. A point can also carry elevation, time and extension data, but those extra readings are not guaranteed to be present. A line on a map is therefore not proof that speed or elevation can be calculated.
Float GPX Editor shows available original fields in Data. It keeps retained points’ recording data when you edit coordinates, and it creates new points with coordinates only. Inspect a few points before deciding whether a missing value is a file issue or an expected absence.
How to open a GPX file online
Use Float GPX Editor to open a local file without uploading it for processing. If you received a ZIP archive, extract its .gpx file first. Download links sometimes save an HTML error or login page; check the file if import reports invalid XML.
- Open the editor and click “Import GPX”, or drop the file onto the page.
- Select a track, route or waypoint in Files. Fit it to view if it is outside the current map.
- Click the line or elevation curve to inspect a point. Download a new GPX after making changes.
What editing a GPX file changes
Trimming removes points outside a chosen range. Moving a point changes its location. Splitting creates two tracks; merging groups existing segments into one track. These are edits to stored data, not a reconstruction of what a GPS device originally measured.
Keep a source copy. The app does not snap lines to roads, add missing terrain elevation, generate timestamps or record a live activity. A basemap helps you compare geometry, but it is separate from the GPX file.
GPX versions and sharing the result
The editor supports GPX 1.0 and 1.1. Exporting the current file retains its version; exporting selected objects or all content creates GPX 1.1. Source metadata is retained in application extensions when combining files, but a destination app may not show it.
GPX export is a portable data copy. It is separate from a browser project and does not include the editor’s undo history. Reopen the downloaded file and test it in the software where you plan to use it.