What is the IETF?

The Internet Engineering Task Force (**IETF**) develops and publishes internet standards as RFCs (Request for Comments). Core email protocols originate here: **SMTP**, MIME, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and emerging standards like BIMI.

Working groups draft specifications, receive community feedback, and iterate until consensus emerges. Standards progress from experimental through proposed to full internet standard status. This process ensures protocols work interoperably across implementations.

For email practitioners, **IETF** RFCs are authoritative technical references. When authentication questions arise, the RFC specifies correct behavior. Understanding that standards emerge from consensus process explains why implementations sometimes differ: RFCs allow flexibility that vendors interpret differently.