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- N-Dimensional Datasets (`astropy.nddata`)

# N-Dimensional Datasets (`astropy.nddata`)

## Introduction

The `nddata` package provides classes to represent images and other gridded data, some essential functions for manipulating images, and the infrastructure for package developers who wish to include support for the image classes. This subpackage was developed based on APE 7.

## Getting Started

### NDData

The primary purpose of `NDData` is to act as a container for data, metadata, and other related information like a mask.

An `NDData` object can be instantiated by passing it an n-dimensional `numpy` array:

    >>> import numpy as np
    >>> from astropy.nddata import NDData
    >>> array = np.zeros((12, 12, 12))  # a 3-dimensional array with all zeros
    >>> ndd1 = NDData(array)

Or something that can be converted to a `numpy.ndarray`:

    >>> ndd2 = NDData([1, 2, 3, 4])
    >>> ndd2
    NDData([1, 2, 3, 4])

And can be accessed again via the `data` attribute:

    >>> ndd2.data
    array([1, 2, 3, 4])

It also supports additional properties like a `unit` or `mask` for the data, a `wcs` (World Coordinate System) and `uncertainty` of the data and additional `meta` attributes:

    >>> data = np.array([1,2,3,4])
    >>> mask = data > 2
    >>> unit = 'erg / s'
    >>> from astropy.nddata import StdDevUncertainty
    >>> uncertainty = StdDevUncertainty(np.sqrt(data)) # representing standard deviation
    >>> meta = {'object': 'fictional data.'}
    >>> ndd = NDData(data, mask=mask, unit=unit, uncertainty=uncertainty,
    ...              meta=meta)
    >>> ndd
    NDData([1, 2, 3, 4], unit='erg / s')

The representation only displays the `data`; the other attributes need to be accessed directly, for example, `ndd.mask` to access the mask.

### NDDataRef

Building upon this pure container, `NDDataRef` implements:

- A `read` and `write` method to access `astropy`’s unified file I/O interface.

- Simple arithmetics like addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.

- Slicing.

Instances are created in the same way:

    >>> from astropy.nddata import NDDataRef
    >>> ndd = NDDataRef(ndd)
    >>> ndd
    NDDataRef([1, 2, 3, 4], unit='erg / s')

But also support arithmetic (NDData Arithmetic) like addition:

    >>> import astropy.units as u
    >>> ndd2 = ndd.add([4, -3.5, 3, 2.5] * u.erg / u.s)
    >>> ndd2
    NDDataRef([ 5. , -1.5,  6. ,  6.5], unit='erg / s')

Because these operations have a wide range of options, these are not available using arithmetic operators like `+`.

Slicing or indexing (Slicing and Indexing NDData) is possible (with warnings issued if some attribute cannot be sliced):

    >>> ndd2[2:]  # discard the first two elements
    NDDataRef([6. , 6.5], unit='erg / s')
    >>> ndd2[1]   # get the second element
    NDDataRef(-1.5, unit='erg / s')

### Working with Two-Dimensional Data Like Images

Though the `nddata` package supports any kind of gridded data, this introduction will focus on the use of `nddata` for two-dimensional images. To get started, we will construct a two-dimensional image with a few sources, some Gaussian noise, and a “cosmic ray” which we will later mask out.

#### Examples

First, construct a two-dimensional image with a few sources, some Gaussian noise, and a “cosmic ray”:

    >>> import numpy as np
    >>> from astropy.modeling.models import Gaussian2D
    >>> rng = np.random.default_rng()
    >>> y, x = np.mgrid[0:500, 0:600]
    >>> data = (Gaussian2D(1, 150, 100, 20, 10, theta=0.5)(x, y) +
    ...         Gaussian2D(0.5, 400, 300, 8, 12, theta=1.2)(x,y) +
    ...         Gaussian2D(0.75, 250, 400, 5, 7, theta=0.23)(x,y) +
    ...         Gaussian2D(0.9, 525, 150, 3, 3)(x,y) +
    ...         Gaussian2D(0.6, 200, 225, 3, 3)(x,y))
    >>> data += 0.01 * rng.standard_normal((500, 600))
    >>> cosmic_ray_value = 0.997
    >>> data[100, 300:310] = cosmic_ray_value

This image has a large “galaxy” in the lower left and the “cosmic ray” is the horizontal line in the lower middle of the image:

    >>> import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
    >>> plt.imshow(data, origin='lower')

(png, svg, pdf)

The “cosmic ray” can be masked out in this test image, like this:

    >>> mask = (data == cosmic_ray_value)

### `CCDData` Class for Images

The `CCDData` object, like the other objects in this package, can store the data, a mask, and metadata. The `CCDData` object requires that a unit be specified:

    >>> from astropy.nddata import CCDData
    >>> ccd = CCDData(data, mask=mask,
    ...               meta={'object': 'fake galaxy', 'filter': 'R'},
    ...               unit='adu')

### Slicing

Slicing works the way you would expect with the mask and, if present, WCS, sliced appropriately:

    >>> ccd2 = ccd[:200, :]
    >>> ccd2.data.shape
    (200, 600)
    >>> ccd2.mask.shape
    (200, 600)
    >>> # Show the mask in a region around the cosmic ray:
    >>> ccd2.mask[99:102, 299:311]
    array([[False, False, False, False, False, False, False, False, False,
            False, False, False],
           [False,  True,  True,  True,  True,  True,  True,  True,  True,
             True,  True, False],
           [False, False, False, False, False, False, False, False, False,
            False, False, False]]...)

For many applications it may be more convenient to use `Cutout2D`, described in image_utilities.

### Image Arithmetic, Including Uncertainty

Methods are provided for basic arithmetic operations between images, including propagation of uncertainties. Three uncertainty types are supported: variance (`VarianceUncertainty`), standard deviation (`StdDevUncertainty`), and inverse variance (`InverseVariance`).

#### Examples

This example creates an uncertainty that is Poisson error, stored as a variance:

    >>> from astropy.nddata import VarianceUncertainty
    >>> poisson_noise = np.ma.sqrt(np.ma.abs(ccd.data))
    >>> ccd.uncertainty = VarianceUncertainty(poisson_noise ** 2)

As a convenience, the uncertainty can also be set with a `numpy` array. In that case, the uncertainty is assumed to be the standard deviation:

    >>> ccd.uncertainty = poisson_noise
    INFO: array provided for uncertainty; assuming it is a StdDevUncertainty. [astropy.nddata.ccddata]

If we make a copy of the image and add that to the original, the uncertainty changes as expected:

    >>> ccd2 = ccd.copy()
    >>> added_ccds = ccd.add(ccd2, handle_meta='first_found')
    >>> added_ccds.uncertainty.array[0, 0] / ccd.uncertainty.array[0, 0] / np.sqrt(2)
    0.99999999999999989

### Reading and Writing

A `CCDData` can be saved to a FITS file:

    >>> ccd.write('test_file.fits')

And can also be read in from a FITS file:

    >>> ccd2 = CCDData.read('test_file.fits')

Note the unit is stored in the `BUNIT` keyword in the header on saving, and is read from the header if it is present.

Detailed help on the available keyword arguments for reading and writing can be obtained via the `help()` method as follows:

    >>> CCDData.read.help('fits')  # Get help on the CCDData FITS reader
    >>> CCDData.writer.help('fits')  # Get help on the CCDData FITS writer

### Image Utilities

#### Cutouts

Though slicing directly is one way to extract a subframe, `Cutout2D` provides more convenient access to cutouts from the data.

##### Examples

This example pulls out the large “galaxy” in the lower left of the image, with the center of the cutout at `position`:

    >>> from astropy.nddata import Cutout2D
    >>> position = (149.7, 100.1)
    >>> size = (81, 101)     # pixels
    >>> cutout = Cutout2D(ccd, position, size)
    >>> plt.imshow(cutout.data, origin='lower')

(png, svg, pdf)

This cutout can also plot itself on the original image:

    >>> plt.imshow(ccd, origin='lower')
    >>> cutout.plot_on_original(color='white')

(png, svg, pdf)

The cutout also provides methods for finding pixel coordinates in the original or in the cutout; recall that `position` is the center of the cutout in the original image:

    >>> position
    (149.7, 100.1)
    >>> cutout.to_cutout_position(position)
    (49.7, 40.099999999999994)
    >>> cutout.to_original_position((49.7, 40.099999999999994))
     (149.7, 100.1)

For more details, including constructing a cutout from World Coordinates and the options for handling cutouts that go beyond the bounds of the original image, see 2D Cutout Images.

#### Image Resizing

The functions `block_reduce` and `block_replicate` resize images.

##### Example

This example reduces the size of the image by a factor of 4. Note that the result is a `numpy.ndarray`; the mask, metadata, etc. are discarded:

    >>> from astropy.nddata import block_reduce, block_replicate
    >>> smaller = block_reduce(ccd, 4)
    >>> smaller
    array(...)
    >>> plt.imshow(smaller, origin='lower')

(png, svg, pdf)

By default, both `block_reduce` and `block_replicate` conserve flux.

### Other Image Classes

There are two less restrictive classes, `NDDataArray` and `NDDataRef`, that can be used to hold image data. They are primarily of interest to those who may want to create their own image class by subclassing from one of the classes in the `nddata` package. The main differences between them are:

- `NDDataRef` can be sliced and has methods for basic arithmetic operations, but the user needs to use one of the uncertainty classes to define an uncertainty. See NDDataRef for more detail. Most of its properties must be set when the object is created because they are not mutable.

- `NDDataArray` extends `NDDataRef` by adding the methods necessary for it to behave like a `numpy` array in expressions and adds setters for several properties. It lacks the ability to automatically recognize and read data from FITS files and does not attempt to automatically set the WCS property.

- `CCDData` extends `NDDataArray` by setting up a default uncertainty class, setting up straightforward read/write to FITS files, and automatically setting up a WCS property.

### More General Gridded Data Classes

There are two additional classes in the `nddata` package that are of interest primarily to users who either need a custom image class that goes beyond the classes discussed so far, or who are working with gridded data that is not an image.

- `NDData` is a container class for holding general gridded data. It includes a handful of basic attributes, but no slicing or arithmetic. More information about this class is in NDData.

- `NDDataBase` is an abstract base class that developers of new gridded data classes can subclass to declare that the new class follows the `NDData` interface. More details are in Subclassing.

## Additional Examples

The list of packages below that use the `nddata` framework is intended to be useful to either users writing their own image classes or those looking for an image class that goes beyond what `CCDData` does.

- The SunPy project uses `NDData` as the foundation for its Map classes.

- The class `NDDataRef` is used in specutils as the basis for Spectrum1D, which adds several methods useful for spectra.

- The package ndmapper, which makes it easy to build reduction pipelines for optical data, uses `NDDataArray` as its image object.

- The package ccdproc uses the `CCDData` class throughout for implementing optical/IR image reduction.

## Using `nddata`

- CCDData Class
  - Getting Started
  - Uncertainty
  - Arithmetic with Images
- Image Utilities
  - Overview
  - 2D Cutout Images
  - Saving a 2D Cutout to a FITS File with an Updated WCS
- Utility Functions for Handling Bit Masks and Mask Arrays
  - Creating Boolean Masks
- Decorating Functions to Accept NDData Objects
- NDData
  - Overview
  - Data
  - Mask
  - Unit
  - Uncertainties
  - Metadata
  - Initialization with Copy
  - Converting NDData to Other Classes
- Mixins for Added Functionality
  - Slicing and Indexing NDData
  - NDData Arithmetic
  - I/O Mixin
- Subclassing
  - `NDData`
  - `NDDataRef`
  - `NDDataBase`
  - Subclassing `NDUncertainty`

## Performance Tips

- Using the uncertainty class `VarianceUncertainty` will be somewhat more efficient than the other two uncertainty classes, `InverseVariance` and `StdDevUncertainty`. The latter two are converted to variance for the purposes of error propagation and then converted from variance back to the original uncertainty type. The performance difference should be small.

- When possible, mask values by setting them to `np.nan` and use the `numpy` functions and methods that automatically exclude `np.nan`, like `np.nanmedian` and `np.nanstd`. This will typically be much faster than using `numpy.ma.MaskedArray`.

## Reference/API

### astropy.nddata Package

The `astropy.nddata` subpackage provides the `NDData` class and related tools to manage n-dimensional array-based data (e.g. CCD images, IFU Data, grid-based simulation data, …). This is more than just `numpy.ndarray` objects, because it provides metadata that cannot be easily provided by a single array.

#### Functions

`add_array`(array_large, array_small, position) | Add a smaller array at a given position in a larger array.
`bitfield_to_boolean_mask`(bitfield[, ...]) | Converts an array of bit fields to a boolean (or integer) mask array according to a bit mask constructed from the supplied bit flags (see `ignore_flags` parameter).
`block_reduce`(data, block_size[, func]) | Downsample a data array by applying a function to local blocks.
`block_replicate`(data, block_size[, conserve_sum]) | Upsample a data array by block replication.
`extend_bit_flag_map`(cls_name[, base_cls]) | A convenience function for creating bit flags maps by subclassing an existing map and adding additional flags supplied as keyword arguments.
`extract_array`(array_large, shape, position) | Extract a smaller array of the given shape and position from a larger array.
`fits_ccddata_reader`(filename[, hdu, unit, ...]) | Generate a CCDData object from a FITS file.
`fits_ccddata_writer`(ccd_data, filename[, ...]) | Write CCDData object to FITS file.
`interpret_bit_flags`(bit_flags[, flip_bits, ...]) | Converts input bit flags to a single integer value (bit mask) or `None`.
`overlap_slices`(large_array_shape, ...[, mode]) | Get slices for the overlapping part of a small and a large array.
`reshape_as_blocks`(data, block_size) | Reshape a data array into blocks.
`subpixel_indices`(position, subsampling) | Convert decimal points to indices, given a subsampling factor.
`support_nddata`([_func, accepts, repack, ...]) | Decorator to wrap functions that could accept an NDData instance with its properties passed as function arguments.

#### Classes

`BitFlagNameMap`() | A base class for bit flag name maps used to describe data quality (DQ) flags of images by provinding a mapping from a mnemonic flag name to a flag value.
`CCDData`(*args, **kwd) | A class describing basic CCD data.
`Conf`() | Configuration parameters for `astropy.nddata`.
`Cutout2D`(data, position, size[, wcs, mode, ...]) | Create a cutout object from a 2D array.
`FlagCollection`(*args, **kwargs) | The purpose of this class is to provide a dictionary for containing arrays of flags for the `NDData` class.
`IncompatibleUncertaintiesException` | This exception should be used to indicate cases in which uncertainties with two different classes can not be propagated.
`InvalidBitFlag` | Indicates that a value is not an integer that is a power of 2.
`InverseVariance`([array, copy, unit]) | Inverse variance uncertainty assuming first order Gaussian error propagation.
`MissingDataAssociationException` | This exception should be used to indicate that an uncertainty instance has not been associated with a parent `NDData` object.
`NDArithmeticMixin`() | Mixin class to add arithmetic to an NDData object.
`NDData`(data[, uncertainty, mask, wcs, meta, ...]) | A container for `numpy.ndarray`-based datasets, using the `NDDataBase` interface.
`NDDataArray`(data, *args[, flags]) | An `NDData` object with arithmetic.
`NDDataBase`() | Base metaclass that defines the interface for N-dimensional datasets with associated meta information used in `astropy`.
`NDDataRef`(data[, uncertainty, mask, wcs, ...]) | Implements `NDData` with all Mixins.
`NDIOMixin`() | Mixin class to connect NDData to the astropy input/output registry.
`NDSlicingMixin`() | Mixin to provide slicing on objects using the `NDData` interface.
`NDUncertainty`([array, copy, unit]) | This is the metaclass for uncertainty classes used with `NDData`.
`NoOverlapError` | Raised when determining the overlap of non-overlapping arrays.
`PartialOverlapError` | Raised when arrays only partially overlap.
`StdDevUncertainty`([array, copy, unit]) | Standard deviation uncertainty assuming first order gaussian error propagation.
`UnknownUncertainty`([array, copy, unit]) | This class implements any unknown uncertainty type.
`VarianceUncertainty`([array, copy, unit]) | Variance uncertainty assuming first order Gaussian error propagation.

### astropy.nddata.bitmask Module

A module that provides functions for manipulating bit masks and data quality (DQ) arrays.

#### Functions

`bitfield_to_boolean_mask`(bitfield[, ...]) | Converts an array of bit fields to a boolean (or integer) mask array according to a bit mask constructed from the supplied bit flags (see `ignore_flags` parameter).
`interpret_bit_flags`(bit_flags[, flip_bits, ...]) | Converts input bit flags to a single integer value (bit mask) or `None`.
`extend_bit_flag_map`(cls_name[, base_cls]) | A convenience function for creating bit flags maps by subclassing an existing map and adding additional flags supplied as keyword arguments.

#### Classes

`BitFlagNameMap`() | A base class for bit flag name maps used to describe data quality (DQ) flags of images by provinding a mapping from a mnemonic flag name to a flag value.
`InvalidBitFlag` | Indicates that a value is not an integer that is a power of 2.

### astropy.nddata.utils Module

This module includes helper functions for array operations.

#### Functions

`extract_array`(array_large, shape, position) | Extract a smaller array of the given shape and position from a larger array.
`add_array`(array_large, array_small, position) | Add a smaller array at a given position in a larger array.
`subpixel_indices`(position, subsampling) | Convert decimal points to indices, given a subsampling factor.
`overlap_slices`(large_array_shape, ...[, mode]) | Get slices for the overlapping part of a small and a large array.

#### Classes

`NoOverlapError` | Raised when determining the overlap of non-overlapping arrays.
`PartialOverlapError` | Raised when arrays only partially overlap.
`Cutout2D`(data, position, size[, wcs, mode, ...]) | Create a cutout object from a 2D array.