ABSTRACT
This entry explains the international standard that guides bibliographic description, the International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD) that contains the principles of descriptive cataloging. The standard will be analyzed by giving its definition, purposes, principles, and objectives; and by explaining its structure, uses, and acceptance around the world. Its need will be justified by providing a short history of the background and evolution of the publication, ending with the current version of the consolidated ISBD that integrates the description of all types of resources that had been covered by specialized ISBDs.
