RFC 2717 (rfc2717) - Page 1 of 10


Registration Procedures for URL Scheme Names



Alternative Format: Original Text Document



Network Working Group                                          R. Petke
Request for Comments: 2717                           UUNET Technologies
BCP: 35                                                         I. King
Category: Best Current Practice                   Microsoft Corporation
                                                          November 1999


              Registration Procedures for URL Scheme Names

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet Best Current Practices for the
   Internet Community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   This document defines the process by which new URL scheme names are
   registered.

1.0 Introduction

   A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a compact string representation
   of the location for a resource that is available via the Internet.
   RFC 2396 [1] defines the general syntax and semantics of URIs, and,
   by inclusion, URLs.  URLs are designated by including a ":"
   and then a "".  Many URL schemes are already
   defined, however, new schemes may need to be defined in the future in
   order to accommodate new Internet protocols and/or procedures.

   A registration process is needed to ensure that the names of all such
   new schemes are guaranteed not to collide.  Further, the registration
   process ensures that URL schemes intended for wide spread, public use
   are developed in an orderly, well-specified, and public manner.

   This document defines the registration procedures to be followed when
   new URL schemes are created.  A separate document, RFC 2718,
   Guidelines for URL Schemes [2], provides guidelines for the creation
   of new URL schemes.  The primary focus of this document is on the
    portion of new URL schemes, referred to as the "scheme name"
   throughout this document.






Petke & King             Best Current Practice