Statements of fact, quality, procedures, or content, to which applicable data entities are compared for purposes of acceptance or use. Standards are documented agreements used to justify decisions, implement policy, and ensure that data processes, products, or services meet their intended purpose. Using common standards increases the shareability, reliability, and effectiveness of data. Many different standards exist that pertain to databases, communications, and computer network procedures, all very essential to data integration. Standards are prescribed by several standard-setting organizations such as American National Standards Institute, International Standards Organization, and National Institute for Standards and Technology.