What type of information do world files store?

World files are primarily utilized to store georeferencing information for raster images. This georeferencing data allows GIS software to correctly position a raster image (such as a scanned map or aerial photograph) in relation to geographic coordinates on the Earth's surface. Essentially, a world file contains key parameters that define how the raster image corresponds to a particular spatial location, including details such as the coordinate system, scale, and origin.

The georeferencing information provided in world files enables GIS applications to overlay these raster images accurately on other spatial data layers, which is critical for analysis, visualization, and map-making. This is particularly important for ensuring that all layers of data align correctly for effective spatial analysis.

Other options relate to concepts that are not functions of world files. For instance, projection information is more about the mathematical transformation of data from a three-dimensional globe to a two-dimensional surface, while raster compression techniques focus on reducing file sizes for efficient storage and transmission. Vector data attributes, on the other hand, refer to the metadata associated with vector datasets that describe the characteristics of vector-based geographic features.