ISO 639-1 is a standardized system that assigns two-letter codes to represent languages. It is part of the broader ISO 639 family of standards, which includes codes for various language-related purposes. These codes help in identifying languages in a concise and consistent manner, making them useful in areas like software development, linguistics, and international communication. The ISO 639-1 codes are widely used in applications such as websites, databases, and language learning tools. For example, the code "en" represents English, while "fr" stands for French. This standardization facilitates clear communication and understanding across different languages and cultures.