[2] Der Standard was founded by Oscar Bronner as a financial newspaper[3] and published its first edition on 19 October 1988.

Der Standard sees itself as—in a Continental European sense (socially and culturally, but not economically)—liberal and independent.

[7] In 2002 the paper was one of four quality daily newspapers with nationwide distribution along with Salzburger Nachrichten, Die Presse, and Wiener Zeitung.

This has been mitigated by having editorial offices in other federal states (currently Styria, Upper Austria and Carinthia) and the introduction of regional sections.

Der Standard is a paper from which foreign media readily quote when an opinion from the Austrian press is required.

Der Standard is published in accordance with the honour code of the Austrian press (which sets rules on matters such as a transparent division between news and comment and the right to privacy).

[18] In June 2019, derStandard.at underwent its first major relaunch in almost 19 years, updating the site's design for the first time since September 2000 and introducing up-to-date technologies under the hood.