ISO

ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, is an independent, non-governmental international body that develops and publishes voluntary technical standards to improve quality, safety, and interoperability across industries. Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ISO coordinates the work of national standards bodies worldwide. Its members include national organizations such as ANSI (United States), BSI (United Kingdom), and DIN (Germany). The name ISO is not an acronym for English words; it derives from the Greek isos meaning equal and was chosen because it is short, neutral, and recognizable in many languages.

Standards are developed through technical committees and subcommittees, with participation from member bodies and industry experts. The process emphasizes consensus and transparency, and drafts are circulated for comment before publication as International Standards (IS) or other deliverables such as technical specifications and technical reports. ISO standards are voluntary; conformity is typically demonstrated by independent certification and verification bodies rather than by ISO itself. The organization does not certify products or systems.

ISO's portfolio covers virtually every sector, including quality management (ISO 9001), environmental management (ISO 14001), information security (ISO/IEC 27001), food safety (ISO 22000), and risk management (ISO 31000). ISO collaborates with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on joint standards (ISO/IEC). It serves as a global reference for best practices and regulatory harmonization, facilitating international trade and consumer protection.

In photography, ISO also denotes the sensitivity of film or a digital sensor to light—the ISO speed. This usage is separate from the standards body, though it shares the common idea of standardized sensitivity.