DescribeCoverage

DescribeCoverage is an operation in the OGC Web Coverage Service (WCS) protocol that returns metadata describing one or more coverages offered by a WCS server. It is designed to help clients understand the structure and availability of a coverage before requesting data with GetCoverage.

The response to a DescribeCoverage request is typically an XML document known as a CoverageDescription. It provides information about the coverage’s domain set, including spatial and temporal extent and grid geometry, and the range set, which details the data variables or bands, their data types, and any valid ranges or missing values. The document also lists the coordinate reference systems (CRSs) that can be used in subsequent GetCoverage requests, the formats and encodings in which the coverage can be retrieved, and any supported interpolation methods. In some implementations, additional metadata such as publication dates, keywords, and spatial resolution may be included.

DescribeCoverage is typically used in conjunction with GetCapabilities and GetCoverage. GetCapabilities provides server-wide metadata, GetCoverage retrieves actual data, and DescribeCoverage supplies the descriptive metadata needed to formulate a valid and efficient GetCoverage request. The operation can help clients decide which coverage identifiers to request, which CRS to use, what output formats are supported, and how the data are structured.

Notes and limitations vary by implementation and WCS version. Some servers may not support DescribeCoverage for all coverages or may return partial metadata.