HDF (Hierarchical Data Format) is a data file format used to store and manage large amounts of complex data. It was developed by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois in the early 1990s and has since become a popular format for storing scientific and engineering data.
HDF files are hierarchical, which means they can store multiple datasets and data types in a single file. The data in HDF files is organized into groups and datasets, with each group and dataset having a name and attributes. This hierarchical structure makes it easy to organize and manage large datasets.
HDF files can store a wide range of data types, including numeric data, text, images, and audio. They are also platform-independent, which means they can be read and written on different operating systems and programming languages.
There are several versions of HDF, including HDF4 and HDF5. HDF5 is the most recent version and is widely used in scientific and engineering applications. It includes advanced features such as parallel I/O and support for complex data types.
HDF files provide a flexible and efficient way to store and manage large and complex data sets.