SystemC^® is defined in this standard. SystemC is an ANSI standard C++ class library for system and hardware design for use by designers and architects who need to address complex systems that are a hybrid between hardware and software. This standard provides a precise and complete definition of the SystemC class library so that a SystemC implementation can be developed with reference to this standard alone. The primary audiences for this standard are the implementors of the SystemC class library, the implementors of tools supporting the class library, and the users of the class library.

This standard defines SystemC(R) with Transaction Level Modeling (TLM) as an ANSI standard C++ class library for system and hardware design.

The general purpose of this standard is to provide a C++-based standard for designers and architects who need to address complex systems that are a hybrid between hardware and software. The specific purpose of this standard is to provide a precise and complete definition of the SystemC class library including a TLM library so that a SystemC implementation can be developed with reference to this standard alone. This standard is not intended to serve as a user's guide or to provide an introduction to SystemC, but it does contain useful information for end users.