meshio
meshio is free, MIT-licensed software for reading and writing unstructured mesh files and converting between supported formats.
What meshio is
meshio is free, MIT-licensed software for reading and writing unstructured mesh files and converting between supported formats. Its format coverage includes Abaqus, ANSYS msh, CGNS, Gmsh, STL, VTK, VTU and XDMF. The Python API can read meshes, expose their points and cells, and write them in a selected format.
From the command line, users can convert and inspect mesh files, compress or decompress them, and change files between ASCII and binary formats. XDMF support includes reading and writing time series that share a mesh. A ParaView plugin can open meshio-supported files after installation, provided ParaView’s Python major version matches. Installation is documented for pip and conda-forge. Some formats need the optional netCDF4 and h5py dependencies, available through the all extra. The project specifies Python 3.8 or later and supports Linux, macOS and Windows. Its metadata identifies science and engineering, including scientific research, among its topics and intended audiences.
Good
- Reads and writes a range of mesh formats
- Python API exposes mesh points and cells
- Command-line tools convert, inspect and compress files
- Supports XDMF time series sharing a mesh
Watch out
- Some formats require optional netCDF4 and h5py dependencies
- ParaView integration requires a matching Python major version
- Requires Python 3.8 or later
Who it suits
meshio may suit scientists and engineers who need Python or command-line tools to read, write or convert unstructured mesh files. It also supports workflows using XDMF time series or ParaView.
Verdict
meshio offers Python and command-line ways to work with supported mesh formats across major desktop operating systems. Check optional format dependencies and ParaView’s Python version when planning an installation.
Plans and prices
From meshio's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| meshio | Free | MIT-licensed software · core uses NumPy · some formats require optional netCDF4 and h5py dependencies |
The facts
Each one read from meshio's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Command line
- The command-line tool can convert, inspect, compress, decompress, and switch mesh files between ASCII and binary formats.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Formats
- Supported formats include Abaqus, ANSYS msh, CGNS, Gmsh, STL, VTK, VTU and XDMF.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Install
- The project documents installation with pip or conda-forge.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- Project metadata lists science and engineering among its topics and identifies scientific research as an intended audience.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- meshio is published under the MIT license.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Maintainer location
- GitHub lists maintainer Nico Schlömer in Berlin, Germany.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Optional dependencies
- The all extra installs netCDF4 and h5py, which are needed for some formats.checked 4 Oct 2026
- ParaView integration
- A ParaView plugin lets users open meshio-supported files in ParaView after installing the plugin and matching ParaView’s Python major version.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- meshio reads and writes unstructured mesh files and converts between supported formats.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Python API
- The Python API can read meshes, expose points and cells, and write meshes to a selected format.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Python requirement
- Project metadata specifies Python 3.8 or later.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Time series
- Its XDMF support includes reading and writing time series that share a mesh.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform support
- Project metadata classifies the operating system as independent.checked 4 Oct 2026
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