De facto standard

A de facto standard is a custom or convention that has achieved a dominant position by public acceptance or market forces (for example, by early entrance to the market). De facto is a Latin phrase that means in fact (literally by or from fact) in the sense of 'in practice but not necessarily ordained by law' or 'in practice or actuality, but not officially established', as opposed to de jure. A de facto standard is a custom or convention that has achieved a dominant position by public acceptance or market forces (for example, by early entrance to the market). De facto is a Latin phrase that means in fact (literally by or from fact) in the sense of 'in practice but not necessarily ordained by law' or 'in practice or actuality, but not officially established', as opposed to de jure.