External Standards
External standards are established specifications, protocols, or guidelines developed by independent organizations to ensure consistency, interoperability, and quality in technology development and implementation. They provide a common framework for systems, data formats, security practices, and communication protocols, enabling seamless integration and compliance across different platforms and industries. Examples include standards for web technologies (e.g., W3C standards), data formats (e.g., JSON, XML), and security protocols (e.g., OAuth, TLS).
Developers should learn and use external standards to build interoperable, secure, and maintainable systems that comply with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. This is crucial in scenarios like web development (following W3C standards for accessibility and cross-browser compatibility), data exchange (using standardized formats like JSON or XML for APIs), and security (implementing protocols like OAuth for authentication). Adhering to standards reduces development time, minimizes errors, and ensures systems can integrate with external services and tools.