What does NETCONF primarily use to encode its data?

NETCONF primarily uses XML (eXtensible Markup Language) to encode its data. This is significant because XML is a flexible markup language that is both human-readable and machine-readable, making it suitable for configuration and management tasks in network devices. It allows for structured data representation, which is essential for conveying complex configurations and operational data in a standardized format.

Using XML facilitates the transport of various types of network management data, including configuration changes and operational state information, in a consistent way across different devices and vendors. NETCONF leverages XML’s hierarchical structure to represent the nested relationships between different elements of a network configuration clearly. This encoding method is integral to NETCONF's function of allowing network devices to be managed programmatically and ensures compatibility across diverse networking environments.