Glossary comparison
IEC vs IEEE: what is the difference?
The difference
IEEE is a professional association whose standards arm writes many electronics and networking standards. The IEC is a separate organisation built from national committees; the two have had a cooperation agreement since 2002.
The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is an international standards body whose members are national committees. The IEEE is a professional association whose standards are developed by its own working groups; some standards are published jointly.
The two terms
IEC
The Geneva-based international standards organisation for electrical, electronic and related technologies, publishing everything from component symbols and safety requirements to functional safety frameworks.
IEEE
The world's largest technical professional organisation, whose Standards Association develops many of the specifications used in chip design, test and networking.
Side by side
| Field | IEC | IEEE |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | International Electrotechnical Commission | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers |
| Type | Acronym | Acronym |
| Domain | Standards & Organisations | Standards & Organisations |
| Group | Standards bodies | Standards bodies |