Editing Internet Draft (section)

{{short description|Document published by the IETF}}
 
An '''Internet Draft''' ('''I-D''') is a document published by the [[Internet Engineering Task Force]] (IETF) containing preliminary technical specifications, results of [[computer network|networking-related]] research, or other technical information. Often, Internet Drafts are intended to be work-in-progress documents for work that is eventually to be published as a [[Request for Comments]] (RFC) and potentially leading to an [[Internet Standard]].  

It is considered inappropriate to rely on Internet Drafts for reference purposes. I-D [[citations]] should indicate the I-D is a ''work in progress''.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_InternetStandardsandtheRequestForCommentRFCProcess-3.htm |title=Internet Standards and the Request For Comment (RFC) Process  |page=3 |work=The TCP/IP Guide |access-date=2015-11-10}}</ref>

An Internet Draft is expected to adhere to the basic requirements imposed on any RFC.<ref name="Guidelines">{{cite IETF |url=https://www.ietf.org/ietf-ftp/ietf/1id-guidelines.html |author=R. Housley |title=Guidelines to Authors of Internet-Drafts |date=2010-12-07 |access-date=2018-03-18}}</ref> 

An Internet Draft is only valid for six months unless it is replaced by an updated version. An otherwise expired draft remains valid while it is under official review by the [[Internet Engineering Steering Group]] (IESG) when a request to publish it as an RFC has been submitted. Expired drafts are replaced with a "tombstone" version and remain available for reference.<ref name="Guidelines"/>