NetCDF differs from alternative ways to store data, because it:

• Uses a simple file-oriented model for portable, self-describing data (unlike databases)
• Emphasizes efficient direct access (unlike XML)
• Provides a multidimensional array abstraction for scientific applications (unlike databases and XML)
• Avoids references to external tables (unlike GRIB and BUFR)
• Sacrifices some power for simplicity with a relatively simple programming interface (unlike HDF5).
• Has a large enough community of users to foster development of:
• support in many third-party applications
• third-party APIs for many scripting languages
• remote access via several network protocols
• development of community conventions, such as Climate and Forecast (CF) metadata conventions

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