According to 4.2b of GB/T 1.1-2020 "Directives for Standardization - Part 1: Structure and Drafting Rules for Standardization Documents", a guide standard refers to "a standard that provides general, principled and directional guidance on a certain subject with appropriate background knowledge, or gives relevant suggestions or information at the same time".

The function of a guide standard is to "provide" guidance, and its core technical element is "factors to be considered". In the "factors to be considered", general, principled or directional guidance on a certain subject is provided. While providing guidance, relevant information is usually given with appropriate background knowledge, and relevant suggestions are provided when necessary.

What a guide standard provides is guidance, suggestions or information, but it does not stipulate requirements, nor does it recommend specific practices or procedures. This is the essential difference between a guide standard and a specification standard or a procedure standard.

For the overall principles and requirements for drafting guide standards, the structure of guide standards, and the writing and expression rules for elements such as the standard title, scope, general provisions, factors to be considered and appendices, please refer to GB/T 20001.7-2017 "Rules for Preparing Standards - Part 7: Guide Standards".