RFC 9720 · INFORMATIONAL · 2025

RFC Formats and Versions

Overview

RFC 9720, “RFC Formats and Versions”, is an Informational document published in January 2025 by P. Hoffman, H. Flanagan. It updates RFC 9280. It obsoletes RFC 7990. It has since been updated by RFC 9920. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.

Abstract

In order to improve the readability of RFCs while supporting their archivability, the definitive version of the RFC Series transitioned from plain-text ASCII to XML using the RFCXML vocabulary; different publication versions are rendered from that base document. This document describes how RFCs are published.

This document obsoletes RFC 7990. This document also updates the stability policy in RFC 9280.

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

What “Informational” means

Published for the general information of the community. It does not define an IETF standard and carries no standards-track status.

Read this RFC

The canonical text of RFC 9720 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in HTML,TXT,PDF,XML.

Relationships to other RFCs
This RFC obsoletes
RFC 7990
This RFC updates
RFC 9280
Updated by
RFC 9920
Other RFCs from 2025

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