RFC 7386 · PROPOSED STANDARD · 2014
SUN · 14 JUN 2026
JSON Merge Patch
Overview
RFC 7386, “JSON Merge Patch”, is a Proposed Standard document published in October 2014 by P. Hoffman, J. Snell. It has been obsoleted by RFC 7396 — refer to the newer document for the authoritative version. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.
Abstract
This specification defines the JSON merge patch format and processing rules. The merge patch format is primarily intended for use with the HTTP PATCH method as a means of describing a set of modifications to a target resource's content.
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 7386 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.
Relationships to other RFCs
Other RFCs from 2014
- RFC 7385 IANA Registry for P-Multicast Service Interface Tunnel Type Code Points
- RFC 7387 A Framework for Ethernet Tree Service over a Multiprotocol Label Switching Network
- RFC 7384 Security Requirements of Time Protocols in Packet Switched Networks
- RFC 7388 Definition of Managed Objects for IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Networks
- RFC 7383 Internet Key Exchange Protocol Version 2 Message Fragmentation
- RFC 7389 Separation of Control and User Plane for Proxy Mobile IPv6
- RFC 7390 Group Communication for the Constrained Application Protocol
- RFC 7381 Enterprise IPv6 Deployment Guidelines