RFC 1123
RFC 1123
(networking, standard)RFC 1123 defines the terms "MUST", "SHOULD", "MAY","unconditionally compliant", "conditionally compliant".Capitals are used to emphasise that the official definition ofthe word is being used.
MUST or REQUIRED means an absolute requirement forconformance.
SHOULD or RECOMMENDED means the item can be ignored undercertain circumstances, although the full implications shouldbe understood.
MAY or OPTIONAL means the implementor can choose, usuallydepending on whether it is needed or not.
Something "unconditionally compliant" meets all the MUST andSHOULD requirements, "conditionally compliant" meets all theMUST requirements and "not compliant" - does not meet someMUST requirement.
For example, RFC 1123 amends RFC952 to say software MUSThandle either a letter or a digit as the first character of ahostname.
rfc:1123.