本国际标准规定了12.7 mm宽、128磁道盒式磁带的物理和磁特性，以实现此类盒式磁带在驱动器之间的物理互换性。它还规定了记录信号的质量、一种称为数字线性磁带3扩展（DLT 3-XT）的格式以及一种记录方法，从而允许驱动器之间进行数据交换。加上标签标准，例如磁带标签的国际标准ISO 1001，它允许通过这种盒式磁带进行完整的数据交换。

This International Standard specifies the physical and magnetic characteristics of a 12,7 mm wide, 128-track magnetic tape cartridge, to enable physical interchangeability of such cartridges between drives. It also specifies the quality of the recorded signals, a format - called Digital Linear Tape 3 Extended (DLT 3-XT) - and a recording method, thereby allowing data interchange between drives. Together with a labelling standard, for instance International Standard ISO 1001 for Magnetic Tape Labelling, it allows full data interchange by means of such magnetic tape cartridges.