RFCdefined

RFCdefined is a term used in software development and technical documentation to describe a specification, protocol, or data format that is defined in an IETF RFC (Request for Comments). The label is not an official designation, but it signals that the item has a formal written specification published through the RFC process and typically carries the interpretive weight of the IETF, though RFCs vary in status (Information, Standards Track, Best Current Practice, Experimental, Historic). RFCdefined emphasizes that the definition adheres to the scope, terminology, and constraints described in the RFC. When used in project documentation, it helps distinguish RFC-defined interfaces from ad hoc or de facto specifications.

Origin and usage: The term arose in online discussion and tooling communities as a concise way to refer to RFC-origin specifications. It is commonly used in open source projects and vendor docs to indicate compliance with RFC-specified behavior.

Limitations: Because RFCs cover a broad spectrum of content and maturity levels, RFCdefined does not guarantee interoperability or implementation readiness. A spec that is RFC-defined may still require follow-up or normative references, and some RFCs are informational rather than normative.

Relation to standards: Some RFCs are standards-track documents; others are informational or Best Current Practice. RFCdefined is a descriptor that signals an RFC-based origin but does not by itself certify conformance.

See also: RFC, IETF, standards-track, de facto standard, protocol specification.