Mastering the Standards: 5 RFCs every developer should know
Do you know what an RFC is, do you know some RFCs? Let’s see 5 essential RFCs for those who use or create REST API.
What is an RFC?
RFC stands for "Request for Comments." It's a type of publication from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and related organizations. RFCs cover a wide range of topics related to computer networks, protocols, procedures, and programs.
RFC 9110: HTTP Semantics
Original Version: HTTP/1.0 (specified in RFC 1945, 1996)
HTTP/1.0 was the original version of the HTTP protocol and provided the basic structure for request-response communication over the web. It included basic methods like GET, POST, and HEAD, and introduced the concept of status codes and headers.
Current Version: HTTP/1.1 (updated in RFC 9110, 2022)
HTTP/1.1 expanded on HTTP/1.0 with more methods (like PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS) and features, such as persistent connections, chunked transfer encoding, and finer control over caching. RFC 9110 is part of a series of documents that update HTTP/1.1 semantics, ensuring more precise and comprehensive specifications.
Link: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9110
RFC 5789: PATCH Method for HTTP
Original Version: PATCH method introduced (RFC 5789, 2010)
Before PATCH, the primary method for updating a resource was PUT, which required sending the complete resource representation. PATCH was introduced to allow partial updates, improving efficiency by only sending changes.
Current Status: Still governed by RFC 5789
PATCH has become an integral part of HTTP, especially in RESTful APIs, allowing more efficient and flexible updates to resources.
Link: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5789
RFC 9457: Problem Details for HTTP APIs
Original Version: This is the first standard for detailing problems in HTTP APIs (RFC 9457, 2023)
Before RFC 9457, there was no standardized way to format error details in HTTP APIs. Developers often created custom error formats, leading to inconsistencies.
RFC 9457 defines a standard way to express error conditions in HTTP APIs. It provides a format for detailing problems, which can help clients understand why a request failed and how to address it. The standard structure includes fields like type
, title
, status
, detail
, and instance
, making error responses more consistent and informative.
Link: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9457
RFC 5246: The Transport Layer Security (TLS) Protocol Version 1.2
Original Version: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) 3.0 (specified in 1996)
SSL 3.0 was the predecessor to TLS and provided the initial framework for secure communication over the Internet. It established the fundamental concepts of secure handshakes, encryption, and certificate-based authentication.
Current Version: TLS 1.2 (specified in RFC 5246, 2008)
TLS 1.2 introduced enhancements in cryptographic algorithms, stronger security mechanisms, and better performance compared to previous versions (TLS 1.0 and 1.1). It remains widely used despite the introduction of TLS 1.3 (specified in RFC 8446, 2018), which further improves security and efficiency.
Link: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5246
RFC 6749: The OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework
Original Version: OAuth 1.0 (specified in RFC 5849, 2010)
OAuth 1.0 provided a method for third-party applications to access resources on behalf of a user. However, it had complexity and security issues, leading to the development of OAuth 2.0.
Current Version: OAuth 2.0 (specified in RFC 6749, 2012)
RFC 6749 outlines the OAuth 2.0 framework, which is widely used for authorization. OAuth 2.0 allows third-party applications to obtain limited access to a web service on behalf of a user, without exposing the user's credentials. It supports various grant types, such as authorization code, implicit, resource owner password credentials, and client credentials, making it flexible and adaptable to different scenarios.
Link: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6749
Conclusion
These are only a few RFCs created to serve as the official documents that define the standards. These 5 RFCs cover fundamental aspects of web communication, security, and authorization. Understanding them is crucial for developers to build secure, efficient, and interoperable systems.
If you didn’t know these RFCs and this article helps you, please leave a like 👍
If you know another common RFC, please leave a comment 💬
I hope this has helped you 😁