ISO IEC 10538-1991 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC 10538:1991 — Information technology — Control functions for text communication. Defines a set of control functions and their coded representations for use in text communications; applies only to text made up of characters and does not define process-control functions. Annexes A, B and C are informational.

Abstract

Specifies control functions and the coded representations to be used when those control functions are embedded in text streams. The standard is intended for interchange of character-based text and does not cover control functions used solely to manage communication processes. Informative annexes provide additional guidance.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed on review).
• Publication date: 17 October 1991 (first edition, 1991).
• Publisher: Joint ISO/IEC publication; prepared under ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 2 (Coded character sets).
• ICS / categories: 35.040.10 (Coding of character sets).
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (1991).
• Number of pages: 51 pages.

Scope

Specifies the names, semantics and coded representations of control functions for character-based text interchange. The scope is limited to text composed of characters; it does not define control functions intended only to control communication processes or protocol exchanges. The coded representations are intended to be embedded with the text rather than carried separately as protocol elements.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and formal semantics of text control functions (names and intended behaviour).
• Coded representations of those control functions for embedding in character streams.
• Applicability limited to character-based text (not graphics or protocol-only control elements).
• Normative and informative references to related character-set and control-function standards (notably ISO/IEC 6429 and ISO/IEC 646).
• Annexes A, B and C provided for information (examples, background and implementation notes).

Typical use and users

Used by implementers of text encodings and processing software (terminal and console emulators, text editors, operating systems), protocol and application designers who embed control functions in text streams, standards developers working on character sets and interchange formats, and digital archivists or localization engineers concerned with reliable text interchange.

Related standards

Closely related to and cross-referenced with: ISO/IEC 6429 (Control functions for coded character sets — definitions and control sequences), ISO/IEC 646 (7‑bit coded character set / ISO 7‑bit), and the Universal Coded Character Set (ISO/IEC 10646) and the Unicode family (shared repertoire and interoperability considerations). These documents together form the character-coding infrastructure used for text interchange.

Keywords

control functions, control codes, character encoding, text communication, coded representations, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 2, ISO 6429, ISO 646, UCS, Unicode

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 10538:1991 is an international standard that specifies control functions and their coded representations for text communication (character‑based text).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It defines the names, semantics and the embedded coded representations of control functions used in character streams; it does not cover control functions used only to control communication processes or protocol exchanges. Annexes provide additional explanatory material.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Software and systems engineers implementing text handling (terminals, editors, OS text subsystems), protocol designers, standards bodies working on character sets, localization professionals and digital archivists concerned with text interchange.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The standard was published in 1991 and the ISO record indicates the edition was reviewed and confirmed (retained) during periodic review; it remains a published (confirmed) International Standard. Users should check current ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 2 work and related newer standards (for example ISO/IEC 6429 and ISO/IEC 10646) for updates and interoperability guidance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the body of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 2 work on coded character sets and control functions and is typically considered alongside ISO/IEC 6429 (control functions), ISO/IEC 646 (basic 7‑bit repertoire) and ISO/IEC 10646/Unicode (universal character repertoire).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Control functions; control codes; character encoding; coded character sets; text interchange; ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 2.