A best current practice, abbreviated as BCP,[1] is a de facto level of performance in engineering and information technology.
It is more flexible than a standard, since techniques and tools are continually evolving.
[2] BCPs are document guidelines, processes, methods, and other matters not suitable for standardization.
The Internet standards process itself is defined in a series of BCPs, as is the formal organizational structure of the IETF, Internet Engineering Steering Group, Internet Architecture Board, and other groups involved in that process.
Each RFC number refers to a specific version of a document Standard Track, but the BCP number refers to the most recent revision of the document.