GEDCOM is the universal interchange format for family-tree data. The current spec is GEDCOM 7.0 (2021) but most genealogy software still emits GEDCOM 5.5.1 (2019) for compatibility. Plain-text hierarchical records: 0-level lines define individuals (INDI) and families (FAM); deeper levels (1, 2, 3...) attach attributes like names, dates, and places. Every major genealogy app reads and writes GEDCOM.
How to open
Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, RootsMagic, Family Tree Maker, Gramps, MacFamilyTree. Plain text in any editor.