Files with the .JT extension contain a light data model for a three-dimensional object, such as unambiguously estimated data, the NURBS surface, as well as information about the product and its manufacturing – namely the PMI and the metadata. The format was designed and introduced as a light format, which is to say that it is compact and highly efficient, and is created by the Siemens PLM software for the purposes of easy visualization of products, as well as teamwork and the exchanging of data between CAD and PDM systems.

JT files can be exported by Computer Aided Design systems, abbreviated as CAD, and later, after being imported, used by product data management systems, abbreviated as PDM. The format is used mainly during the designing and production of cars and in the aviation industry, but it can be used in any other industry in the manufacturing branch.