MDSplus is a set of software tools for data acquisition and storage and a methodology for management of complex scientific data.

MDSplus allows all data from an experiment or simulation code to be stored into a single, self-descriptive, hierarchical structure. The system was designed to enable users to easily construct complete and coherent data sets.

The MDSplus programming interface contains only a few basic commands, simplifyng data access even into complex structures. Using the client/server model, data at remote sites can be read or written without file transfers. MDSplus includes x-windows and java tools for viewing data or for modifying or viewing the underlying structures.