DODS is a scientific data transport mechanism based on the protocols that the World Wide Web uses to move data and information across the Internet.
 

The formulation of DODS is based on two principles:

•  Scientists, as well as national archives, are data providers
•  Users should have access to data directly from their analysis packages

DODS makes scientific data accessible over the Internet, through familiar data analysis and visualization packages...

• Ferret
• IDL
• MATLAB

• BUFR*
• CEDAR
• DSP
• FreeForm
• GRIB*
• HDF EOS
• JGOFS
• MATLAB
• netCDF

*available Spring 1999

DODS has tools for developing network-savvy versions of popular data access APIs and data analysis packages which extend the scope of an application's capability to access data.

A DODS-enabled application can:

• Get any data anywhere on the Internet that is served by a DODS server.
• Use data from any DODS server, pretty much regardless of its native format.
• Still perform all its original functions for accessing data locally.

DODS follows the client-server model*,  and is described fully in the User's Guide**

DODS software is free.

The current version of the DODS core software is 2.19.  It contains software for use with these data access APIs: JGOFS, NetCDF, HDF, FreeForm, and DSP.

It also contains a Matlab client and data server.
 

*   http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/dods/home/about.shtml
** http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/dods/user/guide-html/guide.html
 
 

• Live on the Internet
• MATLAB GUI client
• Data stored in various formats, including DSP, HDF EOS, netCDF
• Data stored at data centers and investigator laboratories with DODS servers installed