ISO/IEC 15938-12:2012描述了可单独使用或与ISO/IEC 15938其他部分结合使用的查询格式工具。每个查询格式工具在两个规范性章节中描述: a） 语法:查询和管理格式的规范性规范。 b） 语义:对应查询格式规范中所有组件语义的规范定义。 在某些情况下，还使用一个或两个信息部分来描述查询格式级别工具: a） 示例:可选地，附加一个关于示例的信息部分。 b） 定义:可选地，附加一个关于定义的信息部分。 查询格式为多媒体内容信息检索系统（如MPEG）提供了标准化接口- 7个数据库），包括输入查询格式、输出查询格式和查询管理三个方面。输入查询格式指定了一个界面，用户可以通过该界面使用一组精确的输入参数以及一组用于描述返回结果集的首选输出参数来描述其搜索条件。输出查询格式指定结果集的接口格式。查询管理提供了基于服务属性（例如，支持的查询格式）选择服务（例如，MPEG-7数据库）或聚合服务（例如，管理一组不同服务的服务提供商）的方法。

ISO/IEC 15938-12:2012 describes the query format tools which may be used independently or in combination with other parts of ISO/IEC 15938. Each query format tool is described in two normative sections: a) Syntax: Normative specification of the query and management format. b) Semantic: Normative definition of the semantics of all the components of the corresponding query format specification. In some instances the query format level tool is also described using either one or two informative sections: a) Examples:Optionally, an informative section dealing with examples is appended. b) Definitions:Optionally, an informative section dealing with definitions is appended. The query format provides a standardized interface for multimedia content information retrieval systems (e.g. MPEG-7 databases) in three aspects which are input query format, output query format, and query managements. The input query format specifies the interface through which the users can describe their search criteria with a set of precise input parameters in addition to a set of preferred output parameters to depict the return result sets. The output query format specifies the interface format for the result set. The query management provides means for selecting services (e.g. MPEG-7 database) or aggregated services (e.g. service provider that administers a set of different services) based on service properties (e.g. supported query format).