---
id: pystac-ext-raster
version: "1.1.1"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pystac-ext-raster — Raster extension for PySTAC

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 4.0M/mo

## What it is and what it does

pystac-ext-raster is a PySTAC extension package that implements the STAC Raster Extension specification. It provides a standardized way to describe raster band metadata within PySTAC catalogs and items, including properties like data type, statistics, histograms, spatial resolution, nodata values, and measurement units. This allows geospatial data providers to document raster imagery in a consistent, machine-readable format.

The package targets versions 1.1.0 and 1.0.0 of the Raster Extension specification. It is typically used by developers building or consuming STAC catalogs that contain raster imagery, enabling them to attach and query detailed band-level metadata. The package version tracks the extension specification version it implements, with post-releases used for code updates that don't change the target specification.

Use it for:

- Document raster band statistics and data types in STAC items for satellite or aerial imagery archives.
- Standardize nodata value and spatial resolution metadata across a collection of raster datasets.
- Enable automated validation of raster band properties in STAC catalog workflows.
- Query and filter raster imagery by band characteristics (e.g., data type, histogram information) in STAC-based systems.
- Integrate raster metadata into geospatial data discovery platforms using STAC standards.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Extends PySTAC with the Raster Extension specification, enabling standardized metadata for raster band properties including data type, statistics, histograms, spatial resolution, nodata values, and units.

Yes. This is a lightweight, actively maintained extension for a widely-used geospatial standard. Install it if you are building or consuming STAC catalogs that include raster imagery and need standardized band metadata. The permissive Apache license, low install friction, and recent maintenance activity make it a safe choice for production use.

## Install

pip install pystac-ext-raster
uv add pystac-ext-raster
poetry add pystac-ext-raster

## Installing pystac-ext-raster

Before you install: Low friction install with a single runtime dependency (pystac-core). Actively maintained as of 2026-08-10 with recent release activity.

License in practice: Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in most projects, including commercial, with minimal restrictions beyond attribution and liability disclaimers.

Quickstart:

pip install pystac-ext-raster

import pystac
from pystac.extensions.raster import RasterExtension

# Access raster extension on a PySTAC item
raster = RasterExtension.ext(item)

Requires Python 3.10 or later and pystac-core as a runtime dependency.

Verify before relying:

- Whether this package is typically used as a direct dependency or primarily through pystac-core's extension loading mechanism.
- Compatibility details with specific PySTAC versions beyond the minimum Python 3.10 requirement.

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 4.0M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

raster metadata extension, pystac raster band properties, stac raster extension, geospatial raster catalog, imagery metadata standardization, raster statistics and histograms, stac extension library, geospatial, stac-extension, raster-metadata

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