ISO IEC IEEE 24765-2017 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2017 — Systems and software engineering — Vocabulary. A jointly published international standard that collects, harmonizes and defines terminology used across systems and software engineering to provide a common reference for practitioners, educators and standards authors.

Abstract

ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2017 provides a comprehensive, harmonized vocabulary for systems and software engineering. The standard compiles definitions drawn from ISO, IEC and IEEE source standards (and associated liaison organizations) so that terms used in life cycle processes, requirements, architecture, design, verification and validation, configuration management, quality and related disciplines have consistent meanings. It is intended as a reference to reduce ambiguity in documentation, contracts, standards development and engineering practice.

General information

• Status: Published (Edition 2, confirmed current in a 2022 review)
• Publication date: September 2017 (Edition 2; IEEE records publication in late August 2017)
• Publisher: Joint ISO / IEC / IEEE publication (prepared with contributions from ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 and the IEEE Computer Society).
• ICS / categories: 35.080; 01.040.35 (Information technology; Software development and system documentation)
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2017), supersedes ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2010
• Number of pages: Approximately 522 pages (full published vocabulary document)

Scope

The standard defines and harmonizes terms and definitions applicable across systems and software engineering disciplines. Its scope covers terminology used in life-cycle processes, requirements engineering, system and software architecture and design, implementation, testing, verification and validation, operations, maintenance, configuration management, quality assurance, measurement and metrics, project management and risk. It intentionally references source standards for many definitions so users can locate authoritative context and extended definitions.

Key topics and requirements

• Comprehensive glossary of systems and software engineering terms and definitions.
• Harmonization of terminology between ISO, IEC and IEEE usages to reduce ambiguity.
• Coverage of lifecycle concepts: requirements, architecture, design, implementation, integration, verification, validation, operation and maintenance.
• Definitions for management disciplines: configuration management, change control, project management, risk and quality.
• Terms related to testing, measurement, metrics and product/service quality characteristics.
• Cross-references to source standards and normative documents for authoritative context.
• Exclusions: proprietary, trademarked or narrowly scoped organizational terms are typically excluded unless broadly used in the field.

Typical use and users

The vocabulary is used by systems and software engineers, technical authors, standards developers, project managers, quality and configuration managers, auditors, educators and students. Typical uses include ensuring consistent terminology in standards and specifications, clarifying contract language, educating practitioners, aligning multi-organization projects and supporting regulatory or procurement activities that require unambiguous definitions.

Related standards

Commonly referenced companion standards include ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (Systems and software engineering — System life cycle processes), ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 (Systems and software engineering — Software life cycle processes), ISO/IEC 25010 (Systems and software — System and software quality models), ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 (Software testing), and IEEE standards addressing verification, validation and software quality practices. The 2017 edition replaces the 2010 edition (ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2010) and work toward a subsequent revision (edition 3) has been underway.

Keywords

vocabulary, glossary, terminology, systems engineering, software engineering, life cycle, requirements, architecture, verification, validation, configuration management, quality, metrics

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2017 is an international vocabulary standard providing harmonized definitions for terms used in systems and software engineering.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers definitions for lifecycle processes, requirements, architecture and design, implementation, integration, verification and validation, maintenance, configuration management, quality, metrics and related management concepts, with cross-references to source standards.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Systems and software engineers, standards authors, project and quality managers, auditors, consultants, educators and students use it to ensure consistent terminology and reduce ambiguity in documentation, contracts and standards.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Edition 2 (2017) is the current published edition; it superseded the 2010 edition. The standard was reviewed and confirmed in 2022. Revision work toward a further edition has been initiated under ISO/IEC/IEEE project procedures.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is not a numbered-series technical specification but a companion vocabulary intended to support many systems and software engineering standards (for example, ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 and 12207) and is produced jointly by ISO, IEC and IEEE to align terminology across those standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Vocabulary, glossary, terminology, systems engineering, software engineering, lifecycle, requirements, architecture, verification, validation, configuration management, quality, metrics.