What is the purpose of Well Known Text (WKT)?

Well Known Text (WKT) is designed to represent coordinate systems and geometries in a textual format that is easily readable and understandable by both humans and machines. The purpose of WKT includes the defining of spatial reference systems, including the parameters of coordinate systems like the datum, projection, and units of measurement.

When WKT is employed to provide a unique name for each coordinate system, it helps in standardizing the way these systems are communicated across different GIS platforms. This unique identification is crucial for ensuring that data from various sources can be correctly aligned and utilized, as it eliminates ambiguity and asserts the specific context of the coordinates being referenced.

Other choices do not encapsulate the primary function of WKT: A does not apply as WKT does not display coordinate systems graphically, but rather describes them textually. B is not accurate since the geographic extent of a dataset refers to the boundaries of the data itself and is not the focus of WKT. D is misleading because WKT is not a substitute for shapefiles; instead, it serves a different purpose in the realm of spatial data representation.