This archive contains answers to questions sent to Unidata support through mid-2025. Note that the archive is no longer being updated. We provide the archive for reference; many of the answers presented here remain technically correct, even if somewhat outdated. For the most up-to-date information on the use of NSF Unidata software and data services, please consult the Software Documentation first.
"A Dataset Query Capabilities (DQC) document is an XML document that describes the set of requests that can be made to a THREDDS data service. A DQC document is returned when a THREDDS dataset is accessed with serviceType "QueryCapability". The DQC can be thought of as an abstract description of the contents of a THREDDS dataset."
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/projects/THREDDS/tech/dqc/DqcSpec.html