IETF | Introduction

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content="Introduction to the IETF"/><meta property="og:image" content="/media/images/ietflogotrans.original.png"/><meta property="og:description" content="The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), founded in 1986, is the premier standards development organization (SDO) for the Internet."/><meta property="og:site_name" content="IETF"/> <link href="https://static.ietf.org/fonts/inter/import.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <script defer="defer" src="/static/dist/main.7d84808b4dfd.js"></script><link href="/static/dist/main.6c3ce2b62208.css" rel="stylesheet"></head><body class="template-standard-page"> <header class="header"> <a href="#content" class="visually-hidden visually-hidden-focusable">Skip to main content</a> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg" aria-label="Main" > <div class="container position-relative"> <button class="navbar-toggler navbar-toggler-light" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#navbarSupportedContent" aria-controls="navbarSupportedContent" 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href="https://www.ietf.org/about/introduction/#principles"> Principles </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.ietf.org/about/introduction/#work"> The work </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Structure of the IETF</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/groups/iesg/"> Internet Engineering Steering Group </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/groups/iab/"> Internet Architecture Board </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/groups/irtf/"> Internet Research Task Force </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/liaisons/"> Liaisons </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/groups/nomcom/"> Nominating Committee </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/groups/trust/"> IETF Trust </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/groups/rfc-editor/"> RFC Editor </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/groups/ise/"> Independent Submissions Editor </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Legal requests</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/legal-request-procedures/"> Legal request procedures </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/legal-requests/"> Legal requests </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Administration</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/overview/"> IETF Administration LLC </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/announcements/"> Administrative announcements </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/reports/"> Administrative reports </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/llc-board/"> IETF Administration LLC Board of Directors </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/financial-statements/"> Financial statements </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/rfps-and-contracts/"> RFPs and contracts </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/administration/policies-procedures/"> Administrative policies and procedures </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/transparency/"> IETF LLC transparency report </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown position-static"> <button class=" nav-link btn megamenu__toggle text-dark fw-semibold text-uppercase dropdown-toggle pe-1 " id="megamenu-toggle-2" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" > Technologies </button> <div class="dropdown-menu megamenu__menu w-100 px-2" aria-labelledby="megamenu-toggle-" > <div class="container py-3"> <div class="row gx-5"> <div class="col-lg-4 d-none d-lg-block"> <div class=""> <p>The IETF works on a broad range of networking technologies that provide the foundation for the Internet's growth and evolution.</p> <img src="/media/images/things.width-600.jpg" class="w-100 object-fit-cover" /> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-8"> <h5 class="border-bottom mb-1 pb-1"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/technologies/"> Technologies <i class="bi bi-chevron-right"></i> </a> </h5> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/technologies/netmgmt/"> Automated network management </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/technologies/iot/"> The Internet of Things </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/technologies/transport/"> New transport technology </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/technologies/security/"> Security & privacy </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">IETF technologies in action</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/technologies/dns/"> Domain Name System </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">IETF technology groups</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/technologies/areas/"> IETF Areas </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/technologies/keywords/"> Working Group keywords </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Recent posts about IETF technologies</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/blog/wimse-working-group/"> WIMSE Working Group: Serious business for cloud computing </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/blog/green-wg/"> The new GREEN working group gets ready for an energy efficient Internet </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/blog/wit-area/"> New IETF Area focuses on web and transport technologies </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/blog/edhoc/"> EDHOC - A new lightweight authenticated key exchange protocol provides improved security with less overhead for Internet-of-Things devices </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown position-static"> <button class=" nav-link btn megamenu__toggle text-dark fw-semibold text-uppercase dropdown-toggle pe-1 " id="megamenu-toggle-5" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" > Meetings </button> <div class="dropdown-menu megamenu__menu w-100 px-2" aria-labelledby="megamenu-toggle-" > <div class="container py-3"> <div class="row gx-5"> <div class="col-lg-4 d-none d-lg-block"> <div class=""> <p>While most IETF work takes place online, meetings and other events such as Hackathons provide in-person opportunities to advance work within the IETF.</p> <img src="/media/images/_MG_4832.width-600.jpg" class="w-100 object-fit-cover" /> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-8"> <h5 class="border-bottom mb-1 pb-1"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/"> Meetings <i class="bi bi-chevron-right"></i> </a> </h5> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/121/"> IETF 121 Dublin </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/122/"> IETF 122 Bangkok </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/123/"> IETF 123 Madrid </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/upcoming/"> Upcoming meetings </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/past/"> Past meetings </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/interim/"> Interim meetings </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/hackathons/"> IETF Hackathons </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/code-sprint/"> Code Sprint </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/124/"> IETF 124 Montreal </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Participation information</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/preparation/"> Preparing for an IETF Meeting </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/guide-ietf-meetings/"> Guide to IETF Meetings </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/technology/"> Meeting network and technology </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/new-participants/"> New Participants </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Organizing meetings</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/planning/"> Meeting planning </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/sponsorship/"> Meeting sponsorship </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown position-static"> <button class=" nav-link btn megamenu__toggle text-dark fw-semibold text-uppercase dropdown-toggle pe-1 " id="megamenu-toggle-4" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" > Process </button> <div class="dropdown-menu megamenu__menu w-100 px-2" aria-labelledby="megamenu-toggle-" > <div class="container py-3"> <div class="row gx-5"> <div class="col-lg-4 d-none d-lg-block"> <div class=""> <p>The IETF is the premier Internet standards organization. It follows open and well-documented processes for setting these standards. Once published, those standards are made freely available.</p> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-8"> <h5 class="border-bottom mb-1 pb-1"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/"> Process <i class="bi bi-chevron-right"></i> </a> </h5> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/process/"> Internet standards process </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/wgs/"> Guide to IETF Working Groups </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/bofs/"> Birds of a Feather </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/iana/"> Protocol registries (IANA) </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/ipr/"> Intellectual property rights </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/directorates/"> Directorates and teams </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/informal/"> The IETF process: an informal guide </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/new-work/"> Bringing new work to the IETF </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">RFCs</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/rfcs/"> About RFCs </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/groups/rfc-editor/"> RFC Editor </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.ietf.org/process/rfcs/#availability-and-use"> Availability and Use </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.ietf.org/process/rfcs/#formats"> Publication formats </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.ietf.org/process/rfcs/#statuses"> Statuses </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.ietf.org/process/rfcs/#streams"> Publication streams </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.ietf.org/process/rfcs/#errata"> Corrections and errata </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/rfcs/vulnerabilities/"> Reporting protocol vulnerabilities to the IETF </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Standards process details</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/process/informational-vs-experimental/"> Choosing between Informational and Experimental Status </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/process/role-iesg-standards-process/"> The role of the IESG in the Standards process </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/group/iesg/appeals/"> Appeals to the IESG </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/process/iesg-ballots/"> IESG ballot procedures </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/informal/"> The IETF process: an informal guide </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown position-static"> <button class=" nav-link btn megamenu__toggle text-dark fw-semibold text-uppercase dropdown-toggle pe-1 " id="megamenu-toggle-3" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" > Participate </button> <div class="dropdown-menu megamenu__menu w-100 px-2" aria-labelledby="megamenu-toggle-" > <div class="container py-3"> <div class="row gx-5"> <div class="col-lg-4 d-none d-lg-block"> <div class=""> <p>The global IETF community works together in many different ways to produce high quality, relevant technical documents that influence the way people design, use, and manage the Internet.</p> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-8"> <h5 class="border-bottom mb-1 pb-1"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/participate/"> Participate <i class="bi bi-chevron-right"></i> </a> </h5> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/participate/get-started/"> Getting started in the IETF </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/participate/ids/"> Internet-Drafts </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/participate/ietf-systers/"> IETF Systers </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Tools and services</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/participate/lists/"> Mailing lists </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/participate/tools/"> Tools and Services </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/open-records/"> Open records </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://chairs.ietf.org"> Chairs Resources </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://authors.ietf.org"> I-D Authors Resources </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Participation guides</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/meeting/guide-ietf-meetings/"> Guide to IETF Meetings </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/process/wgs/"> Guide to IETF Working Groups </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/participate/roles/"> Roles in the IETF </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Key policies</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/note-well/"> Note Well - A reminder of IETF policies </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/statement-iesg-ietf-anti-harassment-policy-20131103/"> Anti-harassment policy </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/bcp9"> Internet Standards process (BCP 9) </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/bcp25"> Working Group processes (BCP 25) </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7154.html"> Guidelines for conduct (BCP 54) </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5378.html"> Copyright (BCP 78) </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8179.html"> Patents, Participation (BCP 79) </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/privacy-statement/"> IETF/IRTF/IAB Privacy Statement </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown position-static"> <button class=" nav-link btn megamenu__toggle text-dark fw-semibold text-uppercase dropdown-toggle pe-1 " id="megamenu-toggle-6" role="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" > Support us </button> <div class="dropdown-menu megamenu__menu w-100 px-2" aria-labelledby="megamenu-toggle-" > <div class="container py-3"> <div class="row gx-5"> <div class="col-lg-4 d-none d-lg-block"> <div class=""> <p>By supporting the IETF today, you are ensuring a free and open Internet exists tomorrow.</p> <img src="/media/images/IMG_15.width-600.jpg" class="w-100 object-fit-cover" /> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-8"> <h5 class="border-bottom mb-1 pb-1"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/"> Support us <i class="bi bi-chevron-right"></i> </a> </h5> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/why-support/"> Why we need your support </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/donors/"> IETF financial supporters </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/donate-ietf-endowment/"> Donate to the IETF Endowment </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Ways to give</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/endowment/"> IETF Endowment </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/sponsorship/"> Meeting sponsorship </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/donate/"> Other ways to give </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/support-us/technical-foundations/"> Technical foundations for business </a> </li> </ul> <h6 class="mt-3 mb-1 pb-1 border-bottom">Supporting values</h6> <ul class="megamenu__linklist"> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/runningcode/"> Running Code </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/sustainability/"> Sustainability </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/diversity/"> Diversity and Inclusion </a> </li> <li> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/open-internet/"> Open Internet </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="navbar-nav col-xl-auto"> <li class=" nav-item " > <a class=" nav-link btn text-dark " href="/blog/" >News & blog</a> </li> <li class="nav-item d-none d-lg-inline-block"> <a href="/search" class="btn text-dark nav-link" role="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#navbarSearch" aria-controls="navbarSearch" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle search bar" > <i class="bi bi-search"></i> Search </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="collapse" id="navbarSearch"> <div class="container"> <div class="row justify-content-center"> <form class="input-group mt-3 mb-3 col-md-8 col-lg-6" action="/search/" method="get" name="search" > <input id="search" type="search" class="form-control" placeholder="Search" aria-label="Search" name="query" required /> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary" aria-label="Submit website search">Go</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> </header> <main id="content"> <div class="bg-white pb-1"> <div class="container"> <nav aria-label="breadcrumbs"> <ol class="breadcrumb bg-transparent pt-3 mb-3 "> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a class="text-dark" aria-label="Home" href="/"><i class="bi bi-house-door-fill"></i></a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item "><a class="text-dark" href="/about/">About</a></li> </ol> </nav> <h1>Introduction to the IETF</h1> <p class="lead u-max-text-width">A brief introduction to the Mission, Participants, Principles, Work and Meetings of the IETF</p> <ul class="social"></ul> </div> </div> <div class="bg-white"> <div class="container"> <div class="row g-0 align-items-start justify-content-between"> <div class="col-12 col-lg-8 col-xl-9 pe-lg-3"> <div class="mb-3 pt-3 pt-lg-3 border-top"> <div class=""> <div id="in-depth" class="u-max-text-width"> <div class="block-markdown"><ul> <li><a href="#about">About the IETF</a><br/></li> <li><a href="#mission">Mission</a><br/></li> <li><a href="#participants">Participants</a><br/></li> <li><a href="#principles">Principles</a><br/></li> <li><a href="#rfcs">RFCs</a><br/></li> <li><a href="#work">The Work</a><br/></li> <li><a href="#meetings">IETF Meetings</a><br/></li> </ul> <h2><a id="about">About the IETF</a></h2> <p>The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), founded in 1986, is the premier standards development organization (SDO) for the Internet. The IETF makes voluntary standards that are often adopted by Internet users, network operators, and equipment vendors, and it thus helps shape the trajectory of the development of the Internet. But in no way does the IETF control, or even patrol, the Internet.</p> <h2><a id="mission">Mission</a></h2> <p>Quoting from <a href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3935">RFC 3935: A Mission Statement for the IETF</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>"the overall goal of the IETF is to make the Internet work better."</em><br/> <em>"Its mission is to produce high quality, relevant technical and engineering documents that influence the way people design, use, and manage the Internet in such a way as to make the Internet work better. These documents include protocol standards, best current practices, and informational documents of various kinds."</em></p> </blockquote> <p>The Mission Statement further states that the Internet isn't value-neutral, and neither is the IETF. The IETF wants the Internet to be useful for communities that share our commitment to openness and fairness. The IETF embraces technical concepts such as decentralized control, edge-user empowerment and sharing of resources, because those concepts resonate with the core values of the IETF community. These concepts have little to do with the technology that's possible, and much to do with the technology that the IETF chooses to create.</p> <h2><a id="participants">Participants</a></h2> <p>There is no membership in the IETF. Anyone can participate by signing up to a working group mailing list (more on that below), or registering for an IETF meeting. All IETF participants are considered volunteers and expected to participate as individuals, including those paid to participate.</p> <p>The IETF welcomes all interested individuals and participants come from all over the world and from many different parts of the Internet industry. In any one year, over 7000 people actively participate in the IETF either by authoring a document, engaging in a mailing list discussion, or attending a meeting.</p> <p>The only fee the IETF charges is for registering for an IETF meeting, with options in place to prevent that fee from becoming a barrier to participation.</p> <p>IETF participants are regularly shown the <a href="https://www.ietf.org/about/note-well/">Note Well</a>, a reminder of the policies and processes they are expected to comply with. To ensure an environment in which people of many different backgrounds are treated with dignity, decency, and respect, these policies include a <a href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/bcp54">code of conduct</a>, an <a href="https://www.ietf.org/blog/ietf-anti-harassment-policy">anti-harassment policy</a>, and the IETF has an <a href="https://www.ietf.org/contact/ombudsteam">Ombudsteam</a> who are the point of escalation for any problems with conduct. </p> <p>The IETF conducts its work solely in English.</p> <h2><a id="principles">Principles</a></h2> <p>The IETF pursues its mission in adherence to the following cardinal principles:</p> <p><strong>Open process</strong> Any interested person can participate in the work, know what is being decided, and make his or her voice heard on the issue. Part of this principle is our commitment to making our documents, our Working Group mailing lists, our attendance lists, and our meeting minutes publicly available on the Internet.</p> <p><strong>Technical competence</strong> The issues on which the IETF produces its documents are issues where the IETF has the competence needed to speak to them, and that the IETF is willing to listen to technically competent input from any source. Technical competence also means that we expect IETF output to be designed to sound network engineering principles - this is also often referred to as "engineering quality".</p> <p><strong>Volunteer Core</strong> Our participants and our leadership are people who come to the IETF because they want to do work that furthers the IETF's mission of "making the Internet work better."</p> <p><strong>Rough consensus and running code</strong> We make standards based on the combined engineering judgement of our participants and our real-world experience in implementing and deploying our specifications.</p> <p><strong>Protocol ownership</strong> When the IETF takes ownership of a protocol or function, it accepts the responsibility for all aspects of the protocol, even though some aspects may rarely or never be seen on the Internet. Conversely, when the IETF is not responsible for a protocol or function, it does not attempt to exert control over it, even though it may at times touch or affect the Internet.</p> <h2><a id="rfcs">RFCs</a></h2> <p>The IETF publishes its technical documentation as RFCs, an acronym for their historical title <em>Requests for Comments</em>. They describe the Internet's technical foundations, such as addressing, routing, and transport technologies. RFCs also specify protocols like TLS 1.3, QUIC, and WebRTC that are used to deliver services used by billions of people every day, such as real-time collaboration, email, and the domain name system.</p> <p>Software developers, hardware manufacturers, and network operators around the world voluntarily implement and adopt the technical specifications and best practices described by RFCs.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.rfc-editor.org">RFC Editor</a> website is the authoritative site for RFCs. The <a href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/">IETF Datatracker</a> provides transparency on the process that resulted in the publication of each RFC.</p> <p>For more information see <a href="https://www.ietf.org/process/rfcs/">About RFCs</a>.</p> <h2><a id="work">The Work</a></h2> <p>The work of the IETF is to produce technical documents (RFCs) that define how Internet technology works in detail, and can be operated and managed at scale.</p> <p>New work in the IETF begins with one or more participants producing a discussion document called an Internet-Draft (I-D) and then working to get that I-D adopted for further work. Anyone can write an Internet-Draft on any topic they believe is relevant to the IETF. There are different routes that an I-D can follow to be adopted, worked on and eventually become an RFC.</p> <p>The IETF has <a href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8179.html">policies</a> about Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) that are designed to ensure that IETF participants have as much information as possible about any IPR constraints on a technical proposal as early as possible in the development process.</p> <p>The majority of the IETF's work is done in <a href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/">Working Groups</a>. A Working Group (WG) has its own mailing list with most of its interaction, and all of it official work, conducted on this list. The day to day work of WGs revolves around Internet-Drafts and over time the WG shapes them into RFCs. Decisions within WGs, as with the broader IETF, are taken by 'rough consensus' and not by voting. When a WG has finished with an I-D it goes through a process to ensure that it has approval from the appointed technical leadership and the consensus support of the IETF as a whole. </p> <p>When an I-D has cleared all the hurdles to become an RFC it goes through a professional editorial process and is then assigned a number and published in a range of formats.</p> <h2><a id="meetings">IETF Meetings</a></h2> <p>The IETF holds three week-long meetings a year. Onsite participation averages between 1000 and 1500 participants. Every effort is made to integrate the 600+ remote participants into the overall meeting experience.</p> <p>IETF meetings are very different from standard industry conferences as they are working meetings with the primary goal of helping Working Groups (WGs) get their tasks done, and the secondary goal of promoting mixing among the WGs. For that reason, most of the agenda is comprised of multiple simultaneous sessions for Working Groups. There is no exposition hall and only a small section of the agenda is set aside for tutorials, industry presentations, panel sessions, and opportunities for the whole community to come together.</p> <p>For more information see <a href="https://www.ietf.org/meeting/guide-ietf-meetings/">Guide to IETF Meetings</a>.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <nav aria-label="In this section" class="bg-body border col-12 col-lg-4 col-xl-3 p-3 p-lg-5 mb-4"> <h2 class="h5 mb-3"><a class="text-dark" href="/about/">About</a></h2> <div class="block-paragraph"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> </ul> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="bg-dark text-light py-1"> <div class="container my-5"> <div class="row"> <section class="col-lg"> <div class="border-bottom u-border-lg-bottom-0 border-light border-opacity-50"> <h4 class="my-0 py-4 fs-6" role="button" aria-expanded="false"> About <i class="bi bi-chevron-down"></i> </h4> <ul class="list-unstyled opacity-75 d-grid gap-2"> <li 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