Single iteration mode iterators will produce a single Scan-like object per iteration, regardless of ms_deisotope.data_source.Scan.ms_level. This is the default mode for formats like MGFLoader.

Grouped iteration mode iterators will produce a ScanBunch object per iteration. A ScanBunch usually contains a precursor MS1 spectrum (but not always) plus a list of zero or more MSn spectra which are derived from it or which have no locate-able precursor.

A standard rich XML-format for raw mass spectrometry data storage, working as both a centroid peak list format or continuous profiles. See http://www.psidev.info/ for additional information. This is the preferred open format for data exchange.

The “Mascot Generic File” format, a plain text multiple peak list format.

A file or data serialization format the encodes a list of mass spectrum peaks with or without additional metadata. A format may either encode multiple spectra or a single spectrum, depending upon design.

A textual identifier for a scan or spectrum that uniquely identifies it within its source file or collection. This may be a nativeID with information encoded in it or an arbitrary string.

A nativeID is a scan_id that contains specific information about how the spectrum was acquired in the context of the instrument run.

An integer value starting at 0 which specifies the position in the sequence of scans/spectra in a dataset. The term scan number also refers to this concept but starts at 1. The scan number is often encoded in nativeID identifiers.