PnetCDF python programming model consists of the following data objects.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| File | pnetcdf.File is a high-level object representing a netCDF file, which provides an interface to create, read and write contents in an netCDF file. A File object contains dimensions, variables, and attributes. Together they describe the structures of data objects and relations among them. |
| Attribute | NetCDF attributes can be created, read, and modified using python dictionary-like syntax. A Pythonic interface for metadata operations is provided both in the File class (for global attributes) and the Variable class (for variable's attributes). |
| Dimension | Dimension defines the dimensional shape of variables. NetCDF variables are multidimensional arrays. The Dimension object, which is also a key component of File class, provides an interface to create, and modify dimensions. |
| Variable | Variable is a core component of a netCDF file representing a multi-dimensional array of data values. In addition to data types and dimensions, variables can be associated with attributes. The Variable object provides operations to read and write the data and metadata of a variable stored in a netCDF file. PnetCDF programming is divided into define and data modes. New data objects can only be created in the define mode. Reading and writings data objects are done in the data mode. Switching between the two modes can be done by explicitly calling function enddef() of a file object. |