What Are Standards?
Ever wonder how some parts of daily life run so smoothly? That’s the power of standards, which sync and support our world.
Standards keep today’s fast-changing world moving forward. They make it possible for technologies to connect seamlessly, safely, and sustainably. From the moment you wake up to the minute you go to bed, your day is shaped by standards that support how we live, work, and communicate.
Standards 101
Standards are shared rules or guidelines developed by experts to help products, services, and technologies work well together. They offer best practices and technical requirements and specifications that engineers and designers can use when creating new products. This, in turn, ensures that the things we use every day function as expected.
See IEEE Standards in Action
Learn how IEEE standards impact the technologies and products you rely on every day.
Wi-Fi as we know it wouldn’t exist without the IEEE 802.11™ family of wireless standards. They laid the groundwork for the high-speed connectivity we rely on today. Learn how IEEE collaboration made affordable, equitable internet access possible and how it continues to support innovation in wireless technology.
Where to Find Standards at Work
The next time your phone connects to Wi-Fi at a coffee shop, your credit card works at a store, or a new appliance plugs in without a problem, you can thank standards. They impact nearly everything around us. Most of us may not see standards directly, but make no mistake: We all benefit from how they help make life easier.
Where Standards Make a Difference
Take a closer look at how IEEE standards benefit you every single day—often without you even realizing it—in these interactive guides from IEEE SA.
Want to get directions to your destination (IEEE 1609)? Search for the best restaurants in town (IEEE 2301, IEEE 2302 and IEEE 2303)? Book an excursion with your credit card (IEEE 802E)? Our standards can help you do all that and more.
In your neighborhood, standards work behind the scenes to keep drivers safer on the road, track fitness activities, and even help predict the weather.
Thanks to technology (with an assist from standards), there’s never been a better time to be an athlete or a sports fan. Tour a smart stadium and see how high-tech upgrades and enhanced digital experiences are transforming the game.
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