{"categories":[{"label":"Scientific/Engineering","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/scientific-engineering/2"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"h5netcdf reads and writes netCDF4 files using h5py or h5pyd backends, bypassing the Unidata netCDF C library and offering an alternative interface to netCDF4-python with optional pure-Python support via Pyfive.","skillfed_tags":["hdf5-netcdf","scientific-data","file-format"],"use_cases":["Read and write netCDF4 files in environments where the Unidata netCDF C library is difficult or impossible to install.","Access HDF5 data via the netCDF4 interface when you already have h5py installed, avoiding duplicate binary dependencies.","Use the pure-Python Pyfive backend to read netCDF files in restricted or containerized environments without C compilation.","Migrate from netCDF4-python to h5netcdf using the legacy API for drop-in compatibility with minimal code changes.","Work with hierarchical netCDF data using the modern API's h5py-like syntax for direct group and variable access."],"what_it_does":"h5netcdf is a Python interface to the netCDF4 file format that reads and writes HDF5 files directly via h5py, h5pyd, or the pure-Python Pyfive backend, without requiring the Unidata netCDF C library. It offers two APIs: a modern hierarchical interface modeled on h5py, and a legacy API designed for compatibility with netCDF4-python. The package supports both NETCDF4 and NETCDF4_CLASSIC formats, unlimited dimensions, groups, and hierarchical variable access.\n\nThe main appeal is reduced installation friction\u2014if you already have h5py, reading netCDF4 files may be simpler than installing netCDF4-python and its C dependencies. It also provides a pure-Python reading path via Pyfive, useful in restricted or hard-to-build environments. The package has been in active development since 2015 and is marked production-stable, with support for Python 3.9 through 3.14.","worth_installing":"Yes. h5netcdf is production-stable, actively maintained, has low install friction, no known vulnerabilities, and a permissive license. Install it if you need netCDF4 support without the Unidata C library, or if you want a pure-Python reading option. The legacy API makes it a low-risk alternative to netCDF4-python for existing code."},"id":"h5netcdf","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/h5netcdf","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/h5netcdf.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/h5netcdf/"},"maintenance":{"status":"active"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2026-01-23","license_spdx":null,"license_treatment":"permissive","name":"h5netcdf","python_support":"supports_current","summary":"netCDF4 via h5py"},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":5183537,"position":2146,"tier":"top_5000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"1.8.1"}