The IEEE societies provide opportunites and areas for the exchange of technical information among members of electronics and electrial engineers' community and related arts and sciences. Societies may represent either an particular segment of the electrical and electronics industries, or a discipline having applicability in different industries and functions. Creation of a new IEEE Society must be approved by the IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB) and by the IEEE Board of Directors.

Each Society operates in a distinct technical area, and aims to provide the necessary source for its further growth, for attracting new members in competition with other societies in the field. Each Society carries out its own publication, meetings, standards, and other activities as required and operates within its own budget and may establish Technical Committees to allow members to promote specialized technical areas.