Editing Interface standard

{{No footnotes|date=February 2021}}

In [[telecommunications]], an '''interface standard''' is a [[technical standard|standard]] that describes one or more functional characteristics (such as [[code conversion]], [[telephone line|line]] assignments, or [[Communications protocol|protocol]] compliance) or physical characteristics (such as electrical, mechanical, or optical characteristics) necessary to allow the exchange of [[information]] between two or more (usually different) systems or pieces of equipment. [[Communications protocol]]s are an example. 

An [[Network interface device|interface]] standard may include operational characteristics and acceptable levels of performance. 

In the military community, interface standards permit [[Command and Control (Military)|command and control]] functions to be performed using communication and [[computer]] systems.

==Telephones==
There are many interface standards between analog telephone [[telephone exchange|central office]] equipment and [[customer-premises equipment]]. Single [[voice frequency|voice]] paths generally include analog audio connections, either a [[two-wire circuit]] or [[four-wire circuit]] plus signaling paths to indicate [[call processing|call progress]] and status information, such as ringing, [[answer supervision]], etc. Some of the known interface types are:
* FXO [[foreign exchange office]]
* FXS [[foreign exchange station]]
* DPO [[dial pulse]] originate
* DPT [[dial pulse]] terminate
* [[E and M signaling]]
* KS [[Kewlstart]]
* [[Loop start]]
* [[Ground start]]

== See also ==
* [[European Telecommunications Standards Institute]]

== References ==
* {{FS1037C}}

[[Category:Telecommunications standards]]


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