What are PhysioBank-compatible (or WFDB-compatible) formats?
The contents of almost all PhysioNet databases are collections of flat files (not relational databases). These files can be read by programs that use the WFDB library to do so. The WFDB library reads files in a variety of formats, presenting their contents in a uniform manner to the programs that use it, so that those programs need not be concerned with the details of the storage formats used in each case. The formats that can be read by the WFDB library are referred to as “PhysioBank-compatible formats”, because they are permissible for files within standard PhysioBank databases. The terms “PhysioBank-compatible” and “WFDB-compatible” are synonymous. Note, however, that the WFDB library is capable of reading a wider variety of formats than those that are actually used within PhysioBank. Many visitors who ask this question assume that they need to understand the details of PhysioBank’s file formats in order to use PhysioBank. This is not necessary, however. Numerous options exist for r
