Request for Comments (RFC) is an official document that specifies standards and protocols related to the Internet and TCP/IP. RFCs are usually published by the IETF, but can also come from the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), IRTF, or independent submitters.
Note: Not all RFCs define standards, but the standards are referenced most often in networking. Each protocol in the TCP/IP suite is documented and updated using the RFC process.
Some protocols have multiple RFCs to describe different aspects of the protocol. The following is a list of some of the current RFCs for common TCP/IP protocols:
- HTTP - RFC 2616, Hypertext Transfer Protocol - HTTP/1.1
- DHCP - RFC 2131, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
- IPv4 - RFC 791, Internet Protocol
- IPv6 - RFC 2460, Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification
Some RFCs were created with a sense of humor and were never intended to be used as a standard. RFC 1149 describes an experimental method for delivering IPv4 packets using carrier pigeons. This standard was extended in RFC 6214 to include delivery of IPv6 packets using these same carrier pigeons. Of course this is all meant in fun, but nonetheless these are official IETF informational RFCs. These RFCs are usually published on April 1 (April Fools’ Day in the United States) and are meant as pranks.
Individual RFCs are publicly and freely accessible at http://www.rfc-editor.org/index.html.