ISO 16642:2003规定了一个框架，旨在为术语数据收集中记录的数据表示的基本原则提供指导。该框架包括一个元模型和用于描述用XML表示的特定术语标记语言（TML）的方法。ISO 16642:2003中定义了TML中实施约束的机制，但除ISO 16642:2003附件中定义的三个TML外，未定义单个TML的具体约束。 ISO 16642:2003旨在支持术语数据计算机应用程序的开发和使用，以及不同应用程序之间此类数据的交换。它没有标准化ISO 12620和其他相关国际标准中规定的数据结构规范的数据类别和方法。 ISO 16642:2003还定义了允许将一个TML中表示的数据映射到另一个TML的条件，并为此指定了通用映射工具（GMT）。 此外，ISO 16642:2003描述了描述语言数据的通用模型。

ISO 16642:2003 specifies a framework designed to provide guidance on the basic principles for representing data recorded in terminological data collections. This framework includes a meta-model and methods for describing specific terminological markup languages (TMLs) expressed in XML. The mechanisms for implementing constraints in a TML are defined in ISO 16642:2003, but not the specific constraints for individual TMLs, except for the three TMLs defined in the annexes of ISO 16642:2003. ISO 16642:2003 is designed to support the development and use of computer applications for terminological data and the exchange of such data between different applications. It does not standardize data categories and methods for the specification of data structures which are specified in ISO 12620 and other related International Standards. ISO 16642:2003 also defines the conditions that allow the data expressed in one TML to be mapped onto another TML and specifies a generic mapping tool (GMT) for this purpose. In addition, ISO 16642:2003 describes a generic model for describing linguistic data.