szabvány

Szabvány is the Hungarian word for a standard: an agreed specification or set of criteria intended to ensure products, services, processes or systems meet defined requirements. Standards can be voluntary or mandatory and cover technical, safety, quality, environmental, measurement and management topics across industries such as manufacturing, construction, information technology and healthcare.

Development of standards typically involves technical committees, industry stakeholders, experts and sometimes public consultation. National standards bodies adopt, publish and maintain standards; in Hungary this role is carried out by the Magyar Szabványügyi Testület (MSZT). International and regional organizations—such as ISO, IEC and CEN—produce standards that national bodies may adopt or adapt, enabling interoperability and facilitating trade.

Purposes of szabványok include ensuring safety, improving product quality and reliability, enabling compatibility between systems, and providing a common basis for regulation, procurement and certification. Standards can be referenced in legislation or used in contractual agreements; where cited by law they acquire mandatory effects.

Advantages of standardization include reduced technical barriers, economies of scale and clearer communication of requirements. Criticisms note potential barriers to innovation if standards are overly prescriptive, the influence of dominant stakeholders on content, and costs associated with compliance. The term szabvány is used broadly in Hungarian to refer to both formal published standards and to informal norms or best practices.