A prescribed documented method or process that is sustainable, repeatable and predictable.

A generic, all-encompassing term used to describe documents that provide a specified set of mandatory or discretionary rules, requirements, or conditions concerned with performance, design, operation, or measurements of quality to accomplish a specific task. Standards may include federal laws, regulations, state laws, federal agency directives, national and internal technical standards, codes of conduct, or organizational "internal use only" documents.

a document that is used by jurisprudence to settle disputes

a document written with mandatory requirements that is suitable for adoption into law

an agreement between parties, for which it is determined that it is useful to lay down the information related to the agreement in a document (information unit)

a technical document - not a law - and therefore subordinate to the law

Mandatory requirements to prescribe a disciplined uniform approach to software development and maintenance activities.