BUFR (Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data) is a binary data format maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for exchanging meteorological and oceanographic data. It's designed to be self-describing and highly flexible, allowing for the efficient representation of a wide variety of data types, including observations from weather stations, satellites, radar, and other sources. BUFR messages contain both the data values and metadata describing the data, such as units, quality control information, and location. The format uses tables defined by the WMO to standardize the meaning of the data elements. Because of its complexity and flexibility, specialized software is required to decode and interpret BUFR data. It is widely used in operational meteorology for exchanging data between national weather services and research institutions. The self-describing nature of BUFR allows for the addition of new data types and parameters without requiring changes to the underlying software, making it a robust and adaptable format for the evolving needs of the meteorological community.