Saltzer, Reed and Clark: end-to-end arguments in system design

What changed

Formulated the end-to-end argument that certain functions can be implemented completely and correctly only with application-level knowledge, constraining what lower communication layers should provide.

Scientific scope

The record is the exact 1984 ACM Transactions on Computer Systems article. It is a design argument, not a claim that all functions belong at endpoints; later Internet architecture debates and implementations remain separate.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact 1984 ACM Transactions on Computer Systems article. It is a design argument, not a claim that all functions belong at endpoints; later Internet architecture debates and implementations remain separate.

Contributors

• J. H. Saltzer · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• D. P. Reed · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• D. D. Clark · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• ACM record for end-to-end arguments
• MIT-hosted end-to-end arguments paper

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

Full scientific record · Browse contribution grades · Request a correction