IEEE 802.3: Understanding the Ethernet Standards Family

This page provides an overview of the IEEE 802.3 family of Ethernet standards. The 802.3 standard defines the physical layer used in local area networks (LANs) for communication between devices.

The IEEE 802.3 standard family specifies the various Ethernet physical layers used for data communication. The physical layer resides at layer-1 of the OSI stack.

For a better understanding of the functions of each layer, refer to OSI vs. TCPIP layers. The MAC (Media Access Control) sublayer resides on layer-2 of the OSI stack. IEEE 802.3 specifications are developed by the working group and the broader IEEE community. It defines both the PHY (Physical Layer) and MAC layers.

In a LAN, physical connections between various nodes and other networking devices like routers, switches, and hubs are established using either copper cables or fiber optic cables.

The following table provides basic descriptions of each of the IEEE 802.3 standards:

IEEE 802.3 Standard Versions and Descriptions

As mentioned above, each IEEE 802.3 sub-standard is associated with a specific speed and medium type.