The word "standards" in the context of Electrical and Electronic Engineering refers to documents providing:
Documents labeled as "recommended practices", "best practices", "guides", "guidelines" all come under the larger genre of Standards. Standards are generally established through consensus by representatives of different countries, professional bodies and organizations. In an era when so many technologies are distributed across multiple devices and interoperability is so important, standardization is crucial and familiarity with industry standards, guidelines (and the venues where they are published) is part of being literate in the fields of Electrical and Computer Engineering/ Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
ASTM Compass (ASTM International Digital Library) is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world-a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy, ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy.
Website for the largest international developer of voluntary standards. A good information resource, access to standards is provided on a for-purchase basis.
