PGN format uses standard algebraic notation to record moves and includes a header section with metadata about the game. A typical PGN file contains tags for the event name, site, date, round, player names, result, and other information, followed by the moves of the game with optional annotations and variations.
The PGN standard was established in the early 1990s and has become the lingua franca of digital chess. Major databases like ChessBase, Lichess, and Chess.com all support PGN import and export. This standardization allows players to share games across different software platforms and analyze them with any compatible tool.
PGN files can contain single games or collections of thousands of games. Large PGN databases are used for opening study, opponent preparation, and statistical analysis. Most chess websites allow games to be downloaded in PGN format, making it easy to build personal game collections for study.