gdalinfo
Get information about raster or vector datasets
TLDR
List all supported raster formats
List information about a specific raster dataset
List information about a specific raster dataset in JSON format
Show histogram values of a specific raster dataset
List information about a Web Map Service (WMS)
List information about a specific dataset of a Web Map Service (WMS)
SYNOPSIS
gdalinfo [--help-general] [-json] [-mm] [-stats] [-hist] [-nogcp] [-nomd] [-norat] [-noct] [-checksum] [-proj4] [-listmdd] [-mdd domain] [-sd subdataset] [-oo NAME=VALUE] [-if format] datasetname [corner_coordinate]
PARAMETERS
--help-general
Display brief usage instructions.
-json
Format output in JSON.
-mm
Report the minimum and maximum pixel values for each band.
-stats
Calculate and report image statistics (min, max, mean, stddev) for each band.
-hist
Calculate and report a histogram for each band.
-nogcp
Suppress GCP (Ground Control Points) reporting.
-nomd
Suppress metadata reporting.
-norat
Suppress reporting of raster attribute table for indexed files.
-noct
Suppress reporting of color table for indexed files.
-checksum
Force computation of checksum for each band.
-proj4
Report the PROJ.4 string for the CRS.
-listmdd
List all metadata domains available on the dataset.
-mdd domain
Report metadata for the specified domain.
-sd subdataset
Report information for the specified subdataset (when dataset is a multi-dataset file).
-oo NAME=VALUE
Passes a driver specific option to the GDAL driver. Multiple -oo options may be listed.
-if format
Force input file format.
datasetname
The name of the raster dataset to be inspected.
corner_coordinate
Optional corner coordinate (ul, ur, lr, ll) for pixel value reporting.
DESCRIPTION
The `gdalinfo` command provides comprehensive metadata and summary information about raster datasets that GDAL supports. It can be used to inspect image files, geospatial datasets, and other raster-based formats to understand their structure, contents, georeferencing, projection, and other relevant properties. The output includes driver name, file size, image dimensions, number of bands, data types, geotransform matrix, coordinate reference system (CRS), and metadata. It can also report pixel values at specified locations and offer information about overviews, color tables, and other specific features of the dataset. `gdalinfo` is essential for understanding and verifying the characteristics of raster data before processing it with other GDAL utilities or GIS software. It can be used both for quickly checking key aspects of a file or for detailed exploration of its inner workings. Knowing how to interpret the output of `gdalinfo` is fundamental for effective geospatial data management and analysis using GDAL.
CAVEATS
The accuracy of statistics and min/max values depends on the underlying data and may not always be reliable for large datasets.
COORDINATE SYSTEMS
gdalinfo
provides detailed information about the coordinate system of the raster data, including the projection, datum, and units. This information is crucial for georeferencing and transforming the data to other coordinate systems.
BAND INFORMATION
For multi-band images, gdalinfo
reports the data type, color interpretation, and other properties of each band individually. Understanding band characteristics is essential for tasks like image analysis and visualization.
Example:
Band 1 Block=128x128 Type=Byte, ColorInterp=Red
HISTORY
gdalinfo
has been a core utility in the GDAL library since its initial release. It serves as a fundamental tool for understanding geospatial raster data. Over time, it has been expanded to support an increasing number of raster formats and metadata types, reflecting the evolution of geospatial data standards. The JSON output option and enhanced statistical reporting are relatively recent additions.
SEE ALSO
gdal_translate(1), gdalwarp(1), gdaladdo(1)