Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) is a device integration technology. EDDL is the key to interoperability between intelligent field devices, Intelligent Device Management (IDM) software part of Asset Management Systems (AMS), control systems, and portable configuration tools. Device manufacturer use EDDL to write a text file that describes their device to the system. The text file from the device manufacturer is loaded on the host and thus tells the system how to interface with the device and how to graphically render the device pages. For instance, what commands to send, how to interpret the response, and how the device manufacturer wants the device data to be displayed on the system to make it easy to use. EDDL is also called the HTML of process control. EDDL is internationally standardized as IEC 61804-3.

The fact that the file is compressed text, and not software, is the main differentiation from other device integration technologies. This simple difference translates into a large number of advantages in both ease of use for the device and for system administration for EDDL that cannot be achieved with other technologies. EDDL is the only device integration to meet the NAMUR NE 105 requirements.

The event of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industrie 4.0 is set to dramatically increase the number of digitally networked devices in a plant; both fieldbus and wireless. EDDL is the technology that enables software to provide an amicable user interface for all these devices of different types, from different manufacturers, of different versions, using different protocols.