PyTables User's Guide: Hierarchical datasets in Python - Release 1.3.3
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# Chapter 7. NetCDF - a PyTables NetCDF3 emulation API

# 7.1. What is NetCDF?

The netCDF format is a popular format for binary files. It is portable between machines and self-describing, i.e. it contains the information necessary to interpret its contents. A free library provides convenient access to these files (see []). A very nice python interface to that library is available in the `Scientific Python NetCDF` module (see []). Although it is somewhat less efficient and flexible than HDF5, netCDF is geared for storing gridded data and is quite easy to use. It has become a de facto standard for gridded data, especially in meteorology and oceanography. The next version of netCDF (netCDF 4) will actually be a software layer on top of HDF5 (see []). The `tables.NetCDF` module does not create HDF5 files that are compatible with netCDF 4 (although this is a long-term goal).

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FileNode module reference | Up | Using the tables.NetCDF module