RFC

RFC stands for Request for Comments. It is a series of memoranda encompassing specifications, protocols, procedures, and informational notes about the Internet and other computer networks. The RFC series began in 1969 on the ARPANET project with the aim of sharing ideas and inviting feedback; the first RFC, RFC 1, was authored by Steve Crocker and colleagues. Over time, the RFCs became the official publication channel for Internet standards, and today they are published under the oversight of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) with the RFC Editor maintaining the archive.

Most RFCs fall into one of several tracks: Standards Track (which defines interoperable protocols), Informational (descriptions, background), Experimental (early-stage ideas), and Best Current Practice (BCP). Some RFCs describe actual protocols and practices used on the Internet, while others provide historical context or guidance for deployment and operation.

Each RFC has a unique number; there is no fixed edition and older documents can be obsoleted or updated by newer ones. The relationships between documents—such as updates, obsoletes, and references—are part of how the series evolves over time.

Access to the RFC corpus is public. The complete collection is available on the RFC Editor website and the IETF’s sites. RFCs are widely cited as the canonical source for protocol specifications and Internet engineering best practices; many RFCs become Internet Standards after completing the standards-track process.