RFC
Pronunciation: ARE-ef-SEE
Also written as: RFC — Request for Comments
A formal document used in engineering teams to propose, discuss, and reach consensus on significant technical or architectural decisions.
Full Definition
In developer tooling and software engineering, an RFC (Request for Comments) is an internal or public document that describes a proposed change, feature, or standard and invites feedback from stakeholders. The term originates from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) process used to define internet standards, but it is now widely adopted by engineering teams at companies such as Meta, Rust, and Ember.js to manage architectural decision-making. Editors working on RFCs must maintain precise, formal language and ensure that the document's status (Draft, Accepted, Rejected, Superseded) is clearly indicated.
Usage
Usage note: In industry usage, 'RFC' no longer implies the formal IETF publication process; it simply indicates a structured proposal for review. Clarify scope and audience when editing an RFC to determine appropriate formality level.
In Context
- "The RFC proposes replacing the current REST endpoints with a GraphQL schema and must be reviewed by all senior engineers." — Internal engineering RFC
- "Ensure the RFC header includes the author, status, and date fields before circulating it for comment." — Document review checklist