Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (.igs)
The IGS file extension refers to the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES), a standardized ASCII-based format developed by the United States Air Force under the ICAM (Integrated Computer-Aided Manufacturing) program in the late 1970s. Designed to facilitate interoperability among diverse CAD systems, IGS files store 2D and 3D vector data including wireframes, surface models, and engineering drawings. Widely adopted across aerospace, automotive, and defense industries, IGES became an ANSI standard in 1980 and was instrumental in streamlining digital product data exchange. Although superseded by newer formats like STEP, IGS remains relevant for legacy system compatibility and long-term archival of CAD data.