NetCDF Format Versions

14.0 NetCDF Format Versions

There are several ways to represent netCDF data.

The classic netCDF format is still the default, but other netCDF formats have been created as needed.

classic — the only netCDF format available until 2004. Supports the classic data model.
64-bit offset — From netCDF-C version 3.6 (2004) to permit very large variables and files. Supports only the classic data model. Works fine even on 32-bit platforms. Just like classic format except for use of 64-bit offsets in file. Still has some size restrictions, for example 4 GB per record for record variables.
netCDF-4 — implementation of enhanced netCDF data model and API, using HDF5 as a storage layer. Supports classic data model also. Provides some performance benefits over classic model.
netCDF-4 classic model — variant of netCDF-4 format that supports only classic data model. Provides netCDF-4 performance benefits while preserving API compatibility with netCDF-3 software.