• Self-Describing: A netCDF file may include metadata as well as data: names of variables, data locations in time and space, units of measure, and other useful information.
• Portable: Data written on one platform can be read on other platforms.
• Direct-access: A small subset of a large dataset may be accessed efficiently, without first reading through all the preceding data.
• Appendable: Data may be efficiently appended to a netCDF file without copying the dataset or redefining its structure.
• Sharable: One writer and multiple readers may simultaneously access the same netCDF file. With Parallel netCDF, multiple writers may efficiently and concurrently write into the same netCDF file.
• Extensible: Adding new dimensions, variables, or attributes to netCDF files does not require changes to existing programs that read the files.
• Archivable: Access to all earlier forms of netCDF data will be supported by current and future versions of the software.

2008 Unidata NetCDF Workshop for Developers and Data Providers > Overview of netCDF