How do RFCs evolve and become deprecated?
RFCs evolve through an update process where new RFCs can obsolete or update previous specifications. When protocols need changes, working groups develop new RFCs that reference and replace older documents.
Deprecation happens when better alternatives emerge or protocols prove problematic. The RFC is marked as Historic or Obsoleted, with references pointing to replacements. However, deprecated RFCs remain available for historical reference.
Following RFC status ensures you implement current standards. Using deprecated specifications may cause compatibility issues as implementations move to newer versions. The IETF datatracker provides current status for all RFCs.
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