# rfc (1-rfc.us)

An RFC is a formal document that proposes or explains how something on the internet should work. People say "RFC" when they mean a published standard, a draft idea, or the process of making one. The most famous is RFC 1149, which jokes about sending internet traffic by carrier pigeon.

## What a model may hear
- Request for Comments document (internet standards, IETF): treat the word as a numbered specification with exact technical requirements
- remote function call (distributed systems programming): assume a procedure invoked across a network
- regional frequency coordinator (amateur radio): map to spectrum management and licensing rules
- request for change (IT service management): trigger workflow for system modifications

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "check the RFC"
  Means: look up the official internet standard
  May be taken as: search for a remote function call implementation or return protocol error codes
  Say instead: "look up IETF RFC 7231 section 6.1"
- Says: "is there an RFC for this"
  Means: has someone proposed a standard
  May be taken as: check for an open change request ticket in a service desk system
  Say instead: "has someone published an IETF RFC or internet draft for this"
- Says: "follow the RFC"
  Means: obey the standard document
  May be taken as: execute a remote procedure call or apply a radio frequency rule
  Say instead: "implement according to IETF RFC 5322"

## Tips
- Always give the RFC number when you mean a specific document.
- Say "IETF RFC" if you want the standards body sense, not remote calls.
- Quote section numbers to pin down exact requirements.
- Use "internet standard" or "protocol specification" if you want to avoid ambiguity entirely.
- Remember that RFCs range from jokes to obsolete drafts to binding standards; say which kind you need.

## Often confused with
- RPC: remote procedure call, not a document
- RFP: request for proposal, business procurement
- API spec: specific to one service, not internet-wide standard
- ISO standard: formal international body, not internet community
- draft: unpublished precursor, not yet an RFC
- errata: correction to an RFC, not the RFC itself