Overview - ISO/IEC/IEEE 26513:2017 (Systems and software engineering)
ISO/IEC/IEEE 26513:2017 specifies minimum requirements and processes for testing and reviewing user documentation. The second edition (2017) focuses on delivering documentation that is consistent, accurate, complete, and usable across printed, electronic, embedded, and online formats. It addresses documentation activities throughout the software lifecycle (not just the final test phase) and complements system/software lifecycle standards such as ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 and ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2015.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and conformance: Defines conformance situations and how organizations can apply the standard as a baseline for local procedures.
- Review and assessment processes: Guidance on integrating documentation reviews and assessments into the software lifecycle, with defined activities and responsibilities.
- Documentation evaluation strategy: Requirements for defining objectives, constraints, evaluation criteria, selection of methods, planning, and resource allocation.
- Evaluation methods and procedures: Minimum requirements and procedures for:
- Documentation review (planning, quality reviews, managing results, configuration change review)
- System testing of documentation (test planning, approvals, problem management)
- Usability testing of documentation (objectives, measures/metrics, planning, execution, problem management)
- Accessibility testing (scope and execution)
- Translation and localization review and testing (planning and execution)
- User-centered guidance: Annex A provides user-centered test and review guidelines (task orientation, error recovery, information access) replacing older editorial checklists.
- Measures and metrics: The standard includes the use of measures and metrics to evaluate documentation usability and effectiveness.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
ISO/IEC/IEEE 26513:2017 is practical for organizations and teams that produce or verify user-facing information:
- Technical writers, information developers, and content architects
- Usability testers, documentation reviewers, and subject-matter experts
- QA engineers and test managers responsible for documentation test plans
- Project managers coordinating documentation evaluation within the software lifecycle
- Localization and accessibility specialists
- Customer support, trainers, and help-desk teams that depend on accurate documentation
Use cases include establishing documentation QA processes, planning documentation usability and accessibility tests, creating system test plans for help content, and validating localized documentation.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 (software lifecycle processes)
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2015 (systems lifecycle processes)
- ISO/IEC 25000 series and related TRs (documentation in product evaluation) - e.g., ISO/IEC TR 25060, ISO/IEC 25062, ISO/IEC 25063, ISO/IEC 25064
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-3:2013 (software testing documentation)
By adopting ISO/IEC/IEEE 26513:2017, organizations ensure structured, user-focused verification of documentation quality - improving usability, accessibility, localization accuracy, and overall user satisfaction.