---
id: pystac-ext-xarray-assets
version: "1.0.1"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pystac-ext-xarray-assets — Xarray Assets extension for PySTAC

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

## What it is and what it does

This package is a PySTAC extension that implements the Xarray Assets Extension specification (v1.0.0). It adds standardized fields to STAC items and assets for describing how they can be opened with xarray, including storage options, open parameters, and engine configuration. This is useful when working with raster imagery and multidimensional data in STAC catalogs.

The extension sits on top of PySTAC and pystac-core, providing a thin API layer to attach and work with xarray-specific metadata. It's designed for developers building STAC workflows that need to document how datasets should be loaded into xarray, particularly in scientific and geospatial contexts where standardized asset descriptions matter.

Use it for:

- Document xarray storage options and engine settings in STAC items for reproducible data loading
- Build STAC catalogs for raster imagery with standardized xarray asset metadata
- Enable downstream tools to automatically configure xarray when opening STAC assets
- Extend STAC workflows with xarray-specific parameters for cloud-optimized or remote datasets

## Worth the install?

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

Extends PySTAC to support the Xarray Assets Extension specification, enabling standardized metadata for describing how STAC assets can be opened with xarray, including storage options and engine configuration.

Yes, if you are building or working with STAC catalogs that include raster or multidimensional data and need to standardize how those assets are opened with xarray. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and carries a permissive license. Install it only if your workflow requires the Xarray Assets Extension; if you're using base PySTAC without xarray asset metadata, it's not necessary.

## Install

pip install pystac-ext-xarray-assets
uv add pystac-ext-xarray-assets
poetry add pystac-ext-xarray-assets

## Installing pystac-ext-xarray-assets

Before you install: Low install friction with a single pure-Python dependency (pystac-core). Active maintenance with a recent release (4 days old) and steady repository activity.

License in practice: Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions; you must include a copy of the license and note material changes.

Quickstart:

pip install pystac-ext-xarray-assets

from pystac_ext_xarray_assets import XarrayAssetsExtension
from pystac import Item

item = Item.from_dict({...})
XarrayAssetsExtension.add_to(item)

Requires Python 3.10 or later; pystac-core must be installed as a runtime dependency.

Verify before relying:

- Whether this extension is required for your STAC workflow or if base PySTAC covers your use case
- Compatibility guarantees with specific versions of xarray beyond what the extension metadata specifies

## 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

pystac xarray assets extension, stac xarray metadata, xarray storage options stac, pystac extension, raster asset xarray, stac catalog xarray, xarray engine configuration stac, stac-extension, geospatial, raster-data

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