I think these definitions are missing the fact that domain names and the labels that comprise them can be spoken about abstractly and exist apart from the actual domain name space. For example, the domain name that appears in the question section of a DNS message may or may not exist in the actual name space. It is still a domain name in either case.
I think it is best to define a domain name simply as a sequence of labels terminating in the null label. And a label as a sequence of octets with an initial length/type octet. Then define the domain name space as described in RFC 1034 Section 3.1 etc. Shumon Huque On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 12:31 PM, Paul Hoffman <paul.hoff...@vpnc.org> wrote: > On Apr 30, 2015, at 9:02 AM, Andrew Sullivan <a...@anvilwalrusden.com> > wrote: > > > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 11:14:24AM -0400, Lyman Chapin wrote: > >> > >> "Label - The identifier of an individual node in the sequence of nodes > that comprise a fully-qualified domain name." > >> > > > > I am not sure this is quite right, or if it is it's circular with the > > other definitions in RFC 1034. > > > > 1034 says this: > > > > Each node has a label, which is zero to 63 octets in length. > > Brother nodes may not have the same label, although the same label > > can be used for nodes which are not brothers. One label is > > reserved, and that is the null (i.e., zero length) label used for > > the root. > > > > The domain name of a node is the list of the labels on the path > > from the node to the root of the tree. By convention, the labels > > that compose a domain name are printed or read left to right, from > > the most specific (lowest, farthest from the root) to the least > > specific (highest, closest to the root). > > > > The problem therefore that I see is that the identifier of the node is > > the domain name (which we have clarified as the "fully-qualified > > domain name"). This is why the text I'd previously sent to Suzanne > > used "portion". For while I agree that it's not great, it does anchor > > this in the discussion already in 1034. > > > > What about > > > > Label - the identifier of an individual node in the DNS namespace > > taken apart from its location in a fully-qualified domain name. > > > > I think this is consistent with the "Each node has a label" language. > > But it's pretty hard to understand, and still faintly circular. > > These are all circular, and I think we have to live with that. This last > one is fine with me too. > > We now have: > > The portion of a domain name at each node in the tree making up a > fully-qualified domain name. > The identifier of an individual node in the sequence of nodes that > comprise a fully-qualified domain name. > The identifier of an individual node in the DNS namespace taken > apart from its location in a fully-qualified domain name. > > --Paul Hoffman > _______________________________________________ > DNSOP mailing list > DNSOP@ietf.org > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/dnsop >
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