RFC 5322 · DRAFT STANDARD · 2008

Internet Message Format

Overview

RFC 5322, “Internet Message Format”, is a Draft Standard document published in October 2008 by P. Resnick. It updates RFC 4021. It obsoletes RFC 2822. It has since been updated by RFC 6854. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.

Abstract

This document specifies the Internet Message Format (IMF), a syntax for text messages that are sent between computer users, within the framework of "electronic mail" messages. This specification is a revision of Request For Comments (RFC) 2822, which itself superseded Request For Comments (RFC) 822, "Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text Messages", updating it to reflect current practice and incorporating incremental changes that were specified in other RFCs. [STANDARDS-TRACK]

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

What “Draft Standard” means

A historical maturity level (retired in 2011) that sat between Proposed Standard and Internet Standard and required multiple interoperable implementations.

Read this RFC

The canonical text of RFC 5322 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.

Relationships to other RFCs
This RFC obsoletes
RFC 2822
This RFC updates
RFC 4021
Updated by
RFC 6854
Other RFCs from 2008

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