NetCDF is a set of software libraries and self-describing, machine-independent data formats that support the creation, access, and sharing of array-oriented scientific data. NetCDF was developed and is maintained at Unidata.[1]

There are APIs for C, Fortran and Java maintained by Unidata. APIs for Python, IDL, MATLAB, R, C++, Ruby and Perl are also available.

[1] http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/docs/#what_is_netcdf