# Efficient mesh data writer

**URL:** https://discourse.vtk.org/t/efficient-mesh-data-writer/10012
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** file-formats
**Created:** [November 30, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/efficient-mesh-data-writer/10012 "2022-11-30T01:39:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Zqinghaohh](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/zqinghaohh/32/6141_2.png) [@Zqinghaohh](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/Zqinghaohh)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/efficient-mesh-data-writer/10012/1 "2022-11-30T01:39:18Z")

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Hi,

I would like to write heavy mesh data (GBs) with VTK and view it in ParaView. Could I have some recommendations on what data structure I should use in VTK to manipulate the data? I have tried unstructured grid, but writing in .vtu file is not very efficient in ASCII and binary (binary is even worse).

By the way, I would like to add some attributes to each mesh triangle to illustrate some physical materials.

Thanks for any help in advance!

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### Author: ![spyridon97](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/spyridon97/32/7069_2.png) [@spyridon97](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/spyridon97)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/efficient-mesh-data-writer/10012/2 "2022-11-30T22:45:01Z")

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If your mesh is triangular, use vtkPolyData. If it’s volumetric use vtkUnstructuredGrid.