HDF5 Format


HDF5 is a flexible set of specifications for packaging 1-, 2-, or 3-dimensional data arrays with metadata in a self-describing format. There are multiple options for data compression. It is used to save data with many different origins, not just X-ray diffraction data. The exact details of the metadata are installation dependent, so different beamlines or diffraction systems may save data with different conventions for the metadata. The current implementation of HDF5 recognizes the choices used at several different beamlines, including multiple beamlines at the Advanced Photon Source. Users analyzing data from other beamlines are encouraged to contact Datasqueeze in order to have those formats incorporated.
For more information on the HDF5 format go to
https://www.hdfgroup.org/solutions/hdf5/