According to GB/T 20000.1—2014 "Standardization Work Guide - Part 1: General Terminology for Standardization and Related Activities", a standard is defined as "a document established through standardization activities, formulated through consensus in accordance with prescribed procedures, providing rules, guidelines or characteristics for various activities or their results, for common and repeated use", and "standards should be based on the comprehensive achievements of science, technology and experience".

A standard is a type of document that, compared with other documents, has the following five characteristics:

1. The formation of a standard requires "establishment through standardization activities, formulated through consensus in accordance with prescribed procedures";

2. Standards have the characteristic of "common and repeated use";

3. The function of a standard is "to provide norms, guidelines or characteristics for various activities or their results";

4. The basis for the generation of standards is "the comprehensive achievements of science, technology and experience";

5. The form of expression of a standard is a normative technical document.