Overview of the RFC Series
The REQUEST-FOR-COMMENTS (RFC) series contains technical and organizational documents about the INTERNET. Managed primarily by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), these documents describe the protocols, procedures, and programs that make the global network function. The process is designed to be open and collaborative, allowing for widespread peer review.
History and Evolution
The first RFC, titled "Host Software", was written by STEVE-CROCKER in 1969. At the time, STEVE-CROCKER and his colleagues were working on the ARPANET, the precursor to the modern INTERNET. What began as informal memos has evolved into a formal system for establishing INTERNET-STANDARDS. For more historical context, see the RFC History page.
The Standardization Process
Most RFC documents start as an INTERNET-DRAFT. These drafts are often developed within WORKING-GROUPS. If a draft is deemed valuable, it is reviewed by the IESG (Internet Engineering Steering Group) and eventually published by the RFC-EDITOR. Once a document is assigned an RFC number, it becomes an archival entity that is never changed. Updates are handled by issuing new documents that supersede the old ones, a process known as "obsoleting".
Key Protocols
Many foundational technologies are defined in RFC documents, including TCP (RFC 793), IP (RFC 791), and DNS (RFC 1034 and 1035). External resources for tracking these documents include the RFC Editor and the IETF RFC page.