ISO/IEC 13816:2007 specifies syntax and semantics of the computer programming language ISLisp by specifying requirements for a conforming ISLisp processor and a conforming ISLisp text. The design goals for ISLisp are the following.

1. ISLisp shall be compatible with existing Lisp dialects where feasible.
2. ISLisp shall have as a primary goal to provide basic functionality.
3. ISLisp shall be object-oriented.
4. ISLisp shall be designed with extensibility in mind.
5. ISLisp shall give priority to industrial needs over academic needs.
6. ISLisp shall promote efficient implementations and applications.

ISO/IEC 13816:2007 does not specify:

• the size or complexity of an ISLisp text that exceeds the capacity of any specific data processing system or the capacity of a particular processor, nor the actions to be taken when the corresponding limits are exceeded;
• the minimal requirements of a data processing system that is capable of supporting an implementation of a processor for ISLisp;
• the method of preparation of an ISLisp text for execution and the method of activation of this ISLisp text, prepared for execution;
• the typographical presentation of an ISLisp text published for human reading;
• extensions that might or might not be provided by the implementation.