XDF - an XML-based Scientific Interchange Language

We present the basics of the eXtensible Data Format (XDF), an XML-based scientific data interchange language developed at the Astronomical Data Center (NASA). XDF addresses common needs of scientific data, and provides a generic wrapper around most existing data files (see related poster paper ``An XML Representation of FITS"). The goal of XDF is to serve as an interchangeable nucleus for various sub-field specific scientific languages (as may be used by NVO). The features of XDF include: n-dimensional tables, complex hierarchical structures, a data model that fuses axis information with the data structure, referencing mechanism for tiling together large arrays or equating axes in separate arrays, automated unit conversion (see related poster paper ``Generating Basic Units with XML"), and browser readiness. Both Java and Perl software packages are available for ease of integration with existing software.