What Are RFCs? The Forgotten Blueprints of the Internet
8 hours ago
- #Technology History
- #Networking
- #Internet Standards
- RFCs (Requests for Comments) are official documents that define how Internet technologies work, serving as reference guides for building, understanding, or improving the Internet.
- The Internet's origins trace back to ARPANET, developed in the late 1960s as a packet-switching network to ensure reliable communication, even in the event of a nuclear attack.
- RFCs were created in 1969 by Steve Crocker to document ARPANET's development, with RFC 1 being the first published document.
- Today, RFCs are maintained by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and include core technologies like TCP/IP, HTTP, and DNS.
- RFCs remain essential for developers, providing the official standards and protocols needed to build reliable and interoperable systems.
- Reading RFCs requires understanding specific terminology (e.g., MUST, SHOULD, MAY) as defined in RFC 2119, which clarifies mandatory vs. optional behaviors.
- Some RFCs are humorous or experimental, such as RFC 1149, which describes transmitting IP packets via pigeons.
- The official sources for RFCs include the RFC Editor, IETF Datatracker, and RFC Reader for an enhanced reading experience.
- Mastery in technology, as emphasized in the post, comes from understanding foundational principles and daring to innovate beyond existing limits.