Publication 28 - Postal Addressing Standards > 1 Introduction
Jointly developed by the Postal Service™ and mailing industry, standardized address information enhances the processing and delivery of mail, reduces undeliverable–as–addressed mail, and provides mutual cost reduction opportunities through improved efficiency. The standards include the uniform methods for matching addresses with the information in Address Information System (AIS) products and formats for outputting addresses on mailpieces. This document describes both standardized address formats and content. It outlines the guidelines that govern how address information appears in the AIS products. Format describes how the various elements appear on a mailpiece or in an address record. Content describes the characters that constitute the various address elements.
Our objectives in compiling a universal format for maintaining information in the Address Management System (source for the AIS products) and an output format are twofold:
