The LYRX file format is a proprietary file format developed by Esri for use with ArcGIS Pro. It is a JSON-based file that stores the properties, symbology, and rendering rules for a geographic layer. Unlike older binary layer files (.lyr) used in ArcMap, the .lyrx format is human-readable and structured to support the complex, multi-layered rendering capabilities of ArcGIS Pro. It acts as a pointer to a data source, such as a shapefile, geodatabase feature class, or web service, while saving the specific visual configuration—such as color schemes, transparency, labeling expressions, and scale-dependent visibility settings—applied to that data. This allows users to share map layers between different projects or users without needing to share the underlying raw data files, provided the recipient has access to the same data source. Because it is essentially a text-based JSON file, it is more robust and easier to version control or programmatically modify than its binary predecessors.