Internet Standard

An Internet Standard is a normative definition of a technology or approach that is relevant to the Internet. This term comes from the field of computer network engineering. The Internet Engineering Task Force is the organisation responsible for developing and publishing Internet standards (IETF). They make it possible for hardware and software from a variety of sources to work together, which is necessary for the functioning of the internet. Internet Standards quickly became the universal language used for all forms of communication once the Internet expanded its reach throughout the globe.

Engineering contributions to the IETF begin life as an Internet Draft, then may advance to a Request for Comments stage, and ultimately may be ratified as an Internet Standard.

A characteristic of an Internet Standard is its technological level of development and its applicability. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) defines a Proposed Standard as a standard that is less developed but stable and has been thoroughly examined. The Draft Standard was a level of intermediate difficulty that was eliminated in 2011. Following the development of a Proposed Standard and before to the establishment of an Internet Standard was the process known as "Drafting" of the standard.

An Internet Standard is, in general, a specification that is stable and well-understood, that is technically competent, that has multiple, independent, and interoperable implementations with substantial operational experience, that enjoys significant public support, and that is recognisable as being useful in some or all parts of the Internet. In other words, an Internet Standard meets all of the criteria listed above.