Computer Science and IT: Standards

 "A standard is a document that provides rules,guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results. Most standards aim to achieve an optimum degree of order in a given context. Standards are guidelines that establish accepted practices, technical requirements, and terminologies for diverse field." Standards Council of Canada

Organizations that develop standards are called standards developing organizations (SDOs) or standards setting organizations (SSOs). This includes committees, companies, government, organizations, trade associations and other groups.