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 reads meshes, exposes points and cells, and writes meshes in a selected format. Its command-line tool can convert and inspect files, compress or decompress them, and switch between ASCII and binary formats. XDMF support includes reading and writing time series that share a mesh. A ParaView plugin opens meshio-supported files after installation, provided ParaView’s Python major version matches. Installation is documented with pip or conda-forge. Some formats require netCDF4 and h5py, available through the all extra. The project specifies Python 3.8 or later and supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. Project metadata identifies science and engineering, including scientific research, among its topics and intended audiences.
Who it is for
meshio suits researchers and science or engineering users working with unstructured mesh files. It offers both a Python API and a command-line workflow.
What is good
- Reads and writes several mesh formats.
- Python API exposes points and cells.
- Command line can inspect and convert files.
- XDMF supports shared-mesh time series.
- Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What to know first
- Some formats require optional netCDF4 and h5py dependencies.
- ParaView use requires a plugin installation.
- ParaView’s Python major version must match.
Verdict
meshio covers mesh conversion and file operations through both Python and command-line interfaces. Check optional format dependencies and ParaView version compatibility for workflows that need them.
meshio plans and pricing
All plansCompared on 3D file converter software
- Format scope
- mesh
- API access
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
