About RFCs

Each distinct version of an Internet specification is published in the form of a "Request for Comment", or RFC. The RFCs form a series of publications of networking technical documents, begun in 1969 as part of the original Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) wide-area networking (ARPANET) project. From a historical perspective it is interesting to note that the earliest e-mail related RFC dates back to 1971.

RFCs cover a wide range of topics, from early discussion of new research concepts in computer communications to status memos about the Internet. RFCs are continuously updated. However, they are never revised or reissued with the same number.

Not all RFCs are Internet standards. RFCs do not become Internet standards until their correctness and implementability, reliability, deployability, manageability, and practicality has been proven. There is an RFC which says what RFCs are current Internet standards.