Short for
Request for Comments, a series of notes about the
Internet, started in 1969 (when the Internet was the
ARPANET). An Internet Document can be submitted to the
IETF by anyone, but the IETF decides if the document becomes an RFC. Eventually, if it gains enough interest, it may evolve into an Internet
standard.
Each RFC is designated by an RFC number. Once published, an RFC never changes. Modifications to an original RFC are assigned a new RFC number.