# Overview

This section describes SNOMED CT Release Format 2 (RF2), to be used for official production releases of SNOMED CT. This format is not mandated for internal terminology development usage or as an interchange mechanism between terminology development systems. RF2 provides a format that is flexible, unambiguous and useful. It was designed to strengthen SNOMED CT by providing a simple and stable format that enables innovation through adaptations to cater for changing requirements.

The component release files are defined in the following sections:

* [Associations Between Release Files](https://docs.snomed.org/snomed-ct-specifications/snomed-ct-release-file-specification/component-release-file-specification/4.1-associations-between-release-files)
* [File Format Specifications](https://github.com/SNOMED-Documents/snomed-release-file-specification/blob/main/4%20component-release-files-specification/4.2%20file-format-specifications)
* [Metadata Hierarchy](https://docs.snomed.org/snomed-ct-specifications/snomed-ct-release-file-specification/component-release-file-specification/4.3-metadata-hierarchy)

{% hint style="success" %} <sub>This specification was developed by harmonizing proposals reviewed by IHTSDO Enhanced Release Format Project Group, including:</sub>

* <sub>Enhanced Release Format Specification (SNOMED International Proposed Specification , 21 June 2007);</sub>
* <sub>Reference Set Specification (SNOMED International Proposed Specification , 31 July 2007);</sub>
* <sub>Alternate Release Format (proposed by NEHTA and their Australian Affiliates).</sub>
  {% endhint %}

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