# HDFView > general purpose viewer and editor for HDF[4,5] files **Wikidata**: [Q130060108](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130060108) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hdfview ## Summary HDFView is a general-purpose software application designed for viewing and editing Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) files, specifically versions 4 and 5. Developed by The HDF Group using the Java programming language, it provides a graphical user interface for end-users to navigate, manipulate, and analyze complex data structures. It is released under a permissive 3-clause BSD license. ## Key Facts - **Developer:** The HDF Group. - **Function:** General-purpose viewer and editor for HDF4 and HDF5 files. - **Software Class:** Application / Software. - **Programming Language:** Java. - **License:** 3-clause BSD License. - **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted. - **Platform:** Java-based (Object-oriented programming language). - **Official Website:** https://www.hdfgroup.org/downloads/hdfview/ - **Source Code Repository:** https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview - **Latest Stable Version:** 3.3.99 (released May 30, 2024). ## FAQs ### Q: What file formats does HDFView support? A: HDFView is designed to read and write Hierarchical Data Format files, specifically supporting both HDF4 and HDF5 versions. ### Q: Is HDFView free to use? A: Yes, HDFView is available under the 3-clause BSD License, which is a permissive free software license. ### Q: What programming language is HDFView built with? A: HDFView is written in Java, an object-oriented programming language, allowing it to run on various platforms. ### Q: Where can I download the source code for HDFView? A: The source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview. ## Why It Matters HDFView serves as the primary graphical user interface tool for interacting with the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF), a standard commonly used in scientific computing, engineering, and aerospace fields to store complex numerical data. Without a tool like HDFView, users would often be forced to interact with these intricate file structures purely through command-line interfaces or custom code, which creates a high barrier to entry for data analysis. By providing a visual "tree" structure of the data, HDFView allows researchers and data scientists to quickly inspect datasets, attributes, and metadata without writing scripts. It lowers the technical threshold required to verify data integrity or extract specific variables from large data archives. As the official tool developed by The HDF Group (the maintainers of the HDF standard), it ensures the most accurate representation and handling of the file specifications, making it a critical utility for the legacy and future data management of the HDF ecosystem. ## Notable For - **Official Tool:** Developed by The HDF Group, the official governing body for the HDF standard. - **Dual Compatibility:** Distinguished by its ability to handle both legacy HDF4 and modern HDF5 formats within a single application. - **Open Source:** Notable for being released under the 3-clause BSD License, encouraging broad adoption and modification. - **Java Architecture:** Built entirely in Java, distinguishing it as a platform-independent tool for diverse operating systems. ## Body ### Overview and Functionality HDFView is a visual tool designed for the management and inspection of Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) files. It allows users to view hierarchical file structures, create new files, and modify existing data objects. As an "application"—defined as a software program designed for end-users—it bridges the gap between raw binary data storage and human-readable analysis. The tool supports the creation, editing, and viewing of scientific data arrays and images contained within HDF files. ### Technical Specifications The software is written in Java, an object-oriented programming language, which facilitates its use across different computing environments without recompilation. It operates as a non-tangible executable component of a computer system and is classified broadly as software. **Repository and Development:** The source code is maintained publicly on GitHub under the organization `HDFGroup`. - **Repository URL:** https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview ### Licensing and Rights HDFView is distributed under the **3-clause BSD License**. This is a permissive license that allows for redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, provided that copyright notices are met. Despite the open-source license, the software retains a **copyrighted** status. ### Version History Development is active, with frequent updates released by The HDF Group. Recent versions tracked in the repository include: - **Version 3.3.99:** Released on May 30, 2024 (Stable version). - **Version 3.3.2:** Released on March 6, 2024 (Stable version). - **Version 99.99.99:** Released on June 20, 2024 (Alpha version). - **Version 3.3.1:** Released on August 29, 2023. - **Version 3.3.0:** Released on April 10, 2023. ### Supported Formats The software is tailored specifically for the **Hierarchical Data Format**. It is capable of both reading (readable file format) and writing (writable file format) to these structures. It explicitly supports the two major iterations of the standard: 1. **HDF4** 2. **HDF5** ## References 1. [Source](https://portal.hdfgroup.org/downloads/hdfview/hdfview3_3_2.html) 2. [Release 3.3.0. 2023](https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview/releases/tag/v3.3.0) 3. [Release 3.3.1. 2023](https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview/releases/tag/v3.3.1) 4. [Release 3.3.99. 2024](https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview/releases/tag/HDFView-3.3.99) 5. [Release 99.99.99. 2024](https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview/releases/tag/HDFView-99.99.99) 6. [Release 3.4.0. 2026](https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview/releases/tag/HDFView-3.4.0) 7. [Release 3.4.1. 2026](https://github.com/HDFGroup/hdfview/releases/tag/v3.4.1)