Note: Many topics at this site are reduced versions of the text in "The Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications." Search results will not be as extensive as a search of the book's CD-ROM.

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) is a technical association of industry professionals with a common interest in advancing all communications technologies. The previous topic discusses the IEEE organization. This topic describes the standards developed by the LAN/MAN Standards Committee (LMSC), which develops LAN (local area network) and MAN (metropolitan area network) standards, mainly for the lowest two layers in the OSI reference model. LMSC is also called the IEEE Project 802, so the standards it develops are referenced as IEEE 802 standards, described next. In general, IEEE 802 standards define physical network interfaces such as network interface cards, bridges, routers, connectors, cables, and all the signaling and access methods associated with physical network connections.