Industry standards refer to a set of guidelines, best practices or protocols that are widely accepted and adopted by an industry as a whole. These standards may be established by various organizations such as trade associations, professional societies, government agencies, or other standard-setting bodies. They provide a framework for how things should be done within the industry, setting minimum requirements for quality, safety, efficiency, or performance. Compliance with these standards is often seen as a mark of credibility and competence, and may be required by regulatory authorities or customers in order to do business. Industry standards can change over time as new technologies, methods, or best practices emerge, but they remain an important benchmark for measuring performance and maintaining quality within the industry.