What files are required for a shapefile to function properly?

A shapefile is a popular geospatial vector data format used in GIS applications, and it typically consists of a set of files that work together to store spatial and attribute data. For a shapefile to function properly, it requires three specific files, which are crucial for representing the geometry, attributes, and the spatial reference system respectively.

The .shp file contains the geometric data, which represents the shape of the features such as points, lines, or polygons. The .shx file serves as the shape index file, providing spatial indexing for efficient access and retrieval of features from the .shp file. The .dbf file stores attribute data in a tabular format, allowing users to associate information (like names, categories, or other descriptive data) with each geometric feature.

Together, these three files - .shp, .shx, and .dbf - ensure that the shapefile can be effectively read by GIS software, allowing users to visualize the geographical features and analyze their attributes appropriately. Hence, the correct choice reflects the minimum required files that enable a shapefile to function correctly in GIS applications.