A Request for Comments (RFC) is a document that typically outlines technical or organizational standards, protocols, guidelines, or concepts. It is published as part of the development and maintenance of internet technologies. RFCs are managed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) or related organizations and play a central role in shaping internet standards.

Key Features of RFCs:

1. Open Discussion: RFCs are designed to present proposals for public review and feedback before they become established standards.

2. Numbering: Each RFC is assigned a unique number (e.g., RFC 822, which describes email standards).

3. Content: They cover a wide range of topics, including network protocols (e.g., TCP/IP), security mechanisms (e.g., TLS), or data formats (e.g., JSON).

4. Status:

   • Proposed Standard: A draft that still requires feedback.
   • Internet Standard: Widely accepted and implemented.
   • Historic: Deprecated documents replaced by newer standards.

5. Archiving: All RFCs remain archived and accessible, even if they are outdated.

Example:

• RFC 791 defines the Internet Protocol (IP), the backbone of the internet.
• RFC 2616 specifies HTTP/1.1, the protocol for fetching web pages.

RFCs encourage collaboration and transparency in the evolution of internet technologies.