# Overview

Data is ***hard***. Information technology is the art of using **mathematics** to describe the **real world**, then presenting the result in a way that is palatable to the **human mind**. It is a magic trick that happens **transparently** every day, **trillions of times** on **billions of computers** across the world. It's even happening **right now**, on your computer, as you read this text.

Behind the slick **user interfaces**, crisp icons, and shiny buttons, there is always a **data interface** that started out ***not quite right***, and hacked on from there. If a strict deadline is involved, the **hacks** can get downright **dirty**. 

While the **"how"** can get messy, the **"what"** is usually **standardized** to keep things easy to **integrate.**  The goal of standards is to make **software development** as **repeatable**, **extendable**, and **maintainable** as possible. 

Usually, there is a broad **consensus** on what constitutes an **"industry standard"** for data. Sometimes it is created by a **standards organization** such as the [Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)](https://www.ietf.org/) or the [Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)](https://www.ieee.org/). Sometimes, however, the standard is **emergent** based on the needs of the **community**.