CAD Glossary
STEP File Format
Standard for the Exchange of Product Data — the most widely supported neutral CAD exchange format.
STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data, ISO 10303) is the most widely supported neutral CAD exchange format. It encodes 3D geometry as B-rep solid models — faces, edges, vertices, and their topological relationships.
Application protocols
The three most common application protocols in use:
- AP203 — Configuration-controlled design. Geometry only. Supported by virtually all CAD systems.
- AP214 — Core data for automotive mechanical design. Geometry, color, and layer information. The most common format for general exchange.
- AP242 — Managed model-based 3D engineering. Full PMI (Product Manufacturing Information), GD&T, and model-based definition. Required for aerospace and defense supply chains.