V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (February 2016):

HDF
       Hierarchical Data Format (NCSA)


The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

Hierarchical Data Format
HDF

    (HDF) A library and multi-object file
   format for the transfer of graphical and numerical data
   between computeres.  The freely available HDF distribution
   consists of the library, command line utilities, test suite
   source, Java interface, and the Java-based HDF Viewer (JHV).

   HDF supports several different data models, including
   multidimensional arrays, raster images, and tables.  Each
   defines a specific aggregate data type and provides an API
   for reading, writing, and organising the data and metadata.
   New data models can be added by the HDF developers or users.

   HDF is self-describing, allowing an application to interpret
   the structure and contents of a file without any outside
   information.

   One HDF file can hold a mixture of related objects which can
   be accessed as a group or as individual objects.  Users can
   create their own grouping structures called "vgroups".

   HDF files can be shared across most common platforms,
   including many workstations and high performance computers.
   An HDF file created on one computer can be read on a different
   system without modification.

   (http://hdf.ncsa.uiuc.edu/).

   (2001-07-02)