RFC 855 · INTERNET STANDARD · 1983
MON · 15 JUN 2026
Telnet Option Specifications
Overview
RFC 855, “Telnet Option Specifications”, is an Internet Standard document published in May 1983 by J. Postel, J.K. Reynolds. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.
Abstract
This memo specifies the general form for Telnet options and the directions for their specification. This RFC specifies a standard for the ARPA Internet community. Hosts on the ARPA Internet are expected to adopt and implement this standard. Obsoletes RFC 651, NIC 18640.
What “Internet Standard” means
A mature, widely-implemented specification that has completed the full IETF standards process — the highest maturity level on the standards track.
Read this RFC
The canonical text of RFC 855 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.
Other RFCs from 1983
- RFC 854 Telnet Protocol Specification
- RFC 856 Telnet Binary Transmission
- RFC 857 Telnet Echo Option
- RFC 852 ARPANET short blocking feature
- RFC 858 Telnet Suppress Go Ahead Option
- RFC 851 ARPANET 1822L Host Access Protocol
- RFC 859 Telnet Status Option
- RFC 850 Standard for interchange of USENET messages