---
name: "gdal"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gdal"
version: "3.13.3-6"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gdal"
---

# gdal(1)

Main gdal entry point Added in version 3.11.

## NAME

gdal - Main gdal entry point

Added in version 3.11.

## SYNOPSIS

```
Usage: gdal <COMMAND> [OPTIONS]
where <COMMAND> is one of:
  - convert:  Convert a dataset (shortcut for 'gdal raster convert' or 'gdal vector convert').
  - dataset:  Commands to manage datasets.
  - driver:   Command for driver specific operations.
  - info:     Return information on a dataset (shortcut for 'gdal raster info' or 'gdal vector info').
  - mdim:     Multidimensional commands.
  - pipeline: Process a dataset applying several steps.
  - raster:   Raster commands.
  - vector:   Vector commands.
  - vsi:      GDAL Virtual System Interface (VSI) commands.
Common Options:
  -h, --help              Display help message and exit
  --json-usage            Display usage as JSON document and exit
  --config <KEY>=<VALUE>  Configuration option [may be repeated]
Options:
  --version               Display GDAL version and exit
  --drivers               Display driver list as JSON document
'gdal <FILENAME>' can also be used as a shortcut for 'gdal info <FILENAME>'.
And 'gdal read <FILENAME> ! ...' as a shortcut for 'gdal pipeline <FILENAME> ! ...'.
```

## RETURN STATUS CODE

The program returns status code 0 in case of success, and non-zero in case of error (non-blocking errors emitted as warnings are considered as a successful execution).

## EXAMPLES

### Example 1: Display the GDAL version

```
$ gdal --version
GDAL 3.13.3 "Iowa City", released 2026/08/13 (debug build)
```

### Example 2: Getting information on the file utm.tif (with JSON output)

```
$ gdal info utm.tif
```

### Example 3: Converting file utm.tif to GeoPackage raster

```
$ gdal convert utm.tif utm.gpkg
```

### Example 4: Getting information on all available commands and subcommands as a JSON document.

```
$ gdal --json-usage
```

### Example 5: Getting list of all formats supported by the current GDAL build, as text

```
$ gdal --formats
```

### Example 6: Search for Parquet in the list of all formats using jq

Bash

```
$ gdal --drivers | jq '.[] | select(.short_name == "Parquet")'
```

PowerShell

```
gdal --drivers | jq '.[] | select(.short_name == \"Parquet\")'
```

## AUTHOR

Even Rouault \<even.rouault@spatialys.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

1998-2026