The information contained in this standard is intended to describe the relationship between the elements used in the electromechanical design and packaging of electronic products using printed boards as the major form of interconnection. Included in these descriptions are the logical and physical elements necessary as input to a design system, as well as the network or interconnection description between the various electronic parts. It is further intended that this structure provides the capability for describing all elements in their final form upon design completion.

The logical and physical elements used in the electronic design process shall be described in digital form in order to enable the data exchange and archiving capability between systems which support design, manufacture, assembly, and test.