What does the IEEE 802.3 standard define?

The IEEE 802.3 standard specifically defines the standards for Ethernet networking technology. Ethernet is a widely used local area networking (LAN) technology that enables devices to connect and communicate over a shared medium. This standard covers both the physical layer and data link layer of the OSI model, detailing aspects such as cabling, signaling, and frame formats.

The scope of IEEE 802.3 encompasses various Ethernet implementations, including different speeds (like 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, and beyond) and media types (such as twisted pair and fiber optic). The standard facilitates interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers that conform to Ethernet specifications, making it a foundational technology in networking.

In contrast, wireless networking, token ring network, and frame relay are unrelated to the IEEE 802.3 standard. Wireless networking is covered under separate IEEE standards, token ring is an older network protocol that is not associated with Ethernet, and frame relay is a wide area network (WAN) protocol for packet switching that also does not tie into Ethernet standards.