Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) is a standardization and documentation repository that tracks improvements to the Ethereum protocol and conventions built upon it.
The repository addresses the need for coordinated, documented evolution of Ethereum by providing a structured process for proposing, discussing, and implementing improvements. EIPs are organized into categories including Core (consensus protocol changes), Networking (peer-to-peer layer specifications), Interface (user and application interaction standards), Meta (miscellaneous consensus-requiring improvements), and Informational (non-standard proposals). The process requires that ideas be thoroughly discussed on community forums before submission, with EIP-1 governing the formal publication workflow. All proposals must pass automated validation checks before merging.
Developers should use this repository if they are proposing changes to Ethereum's core protocol, networking layer, or standardized interfaces, or if they need to reference the canonical specifications for how these systems work. The tool is not intended for implementation help or general Ethereum development questions, which should be directed to community forums and Stack Exchange. The repository underwent a structural change separating application-layer standards (ERCs) into a dedicated repository, so contributors proposing application-level standards should direct their work elsewhere.
The project maintains a clear distinction between draft and finalized specifications, with published EIPs at draft, review, or last-call status explicitly marked as incomplete and subject to change. The repository enforces quality through automated validation of all pull requests before merging, ensuring consistency in documentation standards across proposals.
