Sections of the IGES Data File:

IGES attempt to represent technical drawings; surface and volume models; three-dimensional wire-frame, FEM models; and symbolic representations in a neutral data format.

The IGES concept developed to date has the following five versions:

Version 1.0 was conceived for the early CAD systems and was tailored toward the technology of the year of 1970s. Currently, most of the equipment manufacturers support Versions 2.0 and 3.0.