What Is a GEDCOM File? Interoperability and Limitations

A comprehensive guide to the GEDCOM standard, line-based records, cross-software migration, and schema boundaries.

Created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1984, GEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunication) is the universal interchange format for family history. Version 5.5.1 uses level-tagged lines like INDI and FAM. While widely supported, it has known limitations regarding non-traditional relationships and rich media embedding.