RFC 5246 · PROPOSED STANDARD · 2008

The Transport Layer Security Protocol Version 1.2

Overview

RFC 5246, “The Transport Layer Security Protocol Version 1.2”, is a Proposed Standard document published in August 2008 by T. Dierks, E. Rescorla. It updates RFC 4492. It obsoletes RFC 3268, RFC 4346, RFC 4366. It has since been updated by RFC 5746, RFC 5878, RFC 6176, RFC 7465, RFC 7507, RFC 7568, RFC 7627, RFC 7685, RFC 7905, RFC 7919, RFC 8447, RFC 9155. It has been obsoleted by RFC 8446 — refer to the newer document for the authoritative version. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.

Abstract

This document specifies Version 1.2 of the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. The TLS protocol provides communications security over the Internet. The protocol allows client/server applications to communicate in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, or message forgery. [STANDARDS-TRACK]

Abstract as published in the RFC, via rfc-editor.org.

What “Proposed Standard” means

An entry-level standards-track specification: stable, peer-reviewed and a solid basis for implementation, though it may still evolve before becoming an Internet Standard.

Read this RFC

The canonical text of RFC 5246 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.

Relationships to other RFCs
This RFC obsoletes
RFC 3268 RFC 4346 RFC 4366
Obsoleted by
RFC 8446
This RFC updates
RFC 4492
Other RFCs from 2008

Who Is Online

In total there are 50 users online: 0 registered, 42 guests and 8 bots.

Most users ever online was 5,555 on 17 Jul 2026, 3:23 am.

Bots: AhrefsBot Applebot Baiduspider Bingbot Googlebot Other Bot PetalBot SemrushBot

Users active in the past 15 minutes. Total registered members: 372