Network standards are indeed the specifications and rules that enable devices from different manufacturers to communicate with each other across a network. These standards ensure compatibility, interoperability, and smooth communication between devices and networks, regardless of the manufacturer.
1. De Facto Standards (In Fact)Definition:De facto is a Latin term that means “in fact” or “in practice.” A de facto standard refers to a technology or practice that has become the norm due to widespread use and acceptance, even if it has not been officially formalized or legally recognized by a standardization body.Key Features:Not Legally Mandated: De facto standards are not officially codified or enforced by a legal entity, but they become dominant through adoption by users, organizations, or industries.Widely Used: These standards are accepted and followed because of their widespread usage, market dominance, or network effect (where more people using the technology increases its value and reinforces its use).Examples in Networking:Ethernet: Initially, Ethernet became widely adopted due to its effectiveness, and its widespread usage made it the dominant local area network (LAN) standard, even before formalization.Wi-Fi: Wireless networking technologies based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards became de facto standards because they were widely adopted for home and business networks, even before some formal standardization.
Why De Facto? A technology or protocol becomes de facto when users, developers, and companies prefer it because it works well, is accessible, or is cost-effective, even if it isn’t officially regulated by a formal standardization body.
2. De Jure Standards (By Law)Definition:De jure is another Latin term that means “by law.” A de jure standard refers to a technology or protocol that has been formally adopted and legally recognized by an official standardization organization (such as IEEE, ISO, or ITU-T).Key Features:
Officially Recognized: De jure standards are officially established by recognized bodies and organizations that define and regulate the specifications, rules, and procedures that must be followed.
Legally Mandated: These standards are formalized and usually have the force of law, meaning that they are binding and must be adhered to for certain applications or industries. This ensures uniformity, safety, and reliability.
Examples in Networking:
TCP/IP: The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) are de jure standards because they were formally adopted by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and have been legally recognized as the official protocols for communication over the internet.Ethernet (IEEE 802.3): While Ethernet became a de facto standard first, it was later officially standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), making it a de jure standard.Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11): The IEEE formalized Wi-Fi standards, making them de jure standards.
Why De Jure? A technology becomes a de jure standard when it is officially recognized and regulated by a standardization body. These bodies ensure that the technology adheres to certain guidelines and performs in a consistent and reliable way.
