Web and XML Glossary

RFCs form a series of publications of networking technical documents, started in 1969 as part of the original ARPA wide-area networking (ARPANET) project. RFCs cover a wide range of topics, from early discussion of new research concepts to status memos about the Internet. The IAB views the RFC publication process to be sufficiently important to warrant including the RFC editor in the IAB membership. The status of specifications on the Internet standards track is summarized periodically in a summary RFC entitled "Internet Official Protocol Standards". This RFC shows the level of maturity and other helpful information for each Internet Protocol or service specification. The "Internet Official Protocol Standards" RFC is the authoritative statement of the status of any particular Internet specification, and it is the "Publication of Record" with respect to Internet standardization.