'''Advanced Scientific Data Format''' ('''ASDF''') is a proposed replacement to the [[FITS]] standard for astronomical images and other astronomical[[scientific data]].<ref name=Greenfield2015>{{cite journal |last1=Greenfield |first1=P. |last2=Droettboom |first2=M. |last3=Bray |first3=E. |year=2015 |title=ASDF: A new data format for astronomy |journal=Astronomy and Computing |volume=12 |pages=240–251 |doi=10.1016/j.ascom.2015.06.004 |bibcode = 2015A&C....12..240G|doi-access=free }}</ref> The [[metadata]] is contained in a [[YAML]] (Human-readable data serialization format) header followed by binary or ASCII data.
ASDF is used, notably, as an interchange format for the data processing pipeline of the [[James Webb Space Telescope]].[https://jwst-docs.stsci.edu/understanding-jwst-data-files/jwst-data-formats#JWSTDataFormats-asdfASDFformat]
==Improvements to FITS==
The Flexible Image Transport System ([[FITS|FITS)]] standard is a widely used data format in astronomy that incorporates metadata and ASCII or binary data in the same file.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wells |first1=D. C. |last2=Greisen |first2=E. W. |last3=Harten |first3=R. H. |title=FITS: A Flexible Image Transport System |journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series |volume=44 |pages=363–370 |date=June 1981 |bibcode=1981A&AS...44..363W}}</ref> However, the FITS standard has several limitations that make it difficult to use for complicated and hierarchical data. For example, the FITS 'cards' have keywords limited to only 8 characters, which can make it difficult to properly describe the value associated with it and the value for each keyword and its comment cannot be longer than 68 characters.<ref name=Greenfield2015 /> By using [[YAML]], more sophisticated and nested data structures may be used in ASDF than FITS.
==References==
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* {{Official website|asdf-standard.readthedocs.io}} for documentation
