> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.snomed.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.snomed.org/snomed-ct-specifications/snomed-ct-release-file-specification/release-types-packages-and-files/3-release-types-packages-and-files.md).
# Overview
This section covers several general topics related to SNOMED CT release packages and release files including:
* [Common Features of All Release Files](https://github.com/SNOMED-Documents/snomed-release-file-specification/blob/main/3-release-types-packages-and-files/3.1-common-features-of-all-release-files)
* [Release Types](/snomed-ct-specifications/snomed-ct-release-file-specification/release-types-packages-and-files/3.2-release-types.md)
* [Naming Conventions for Release Packages and Files](https://github.com/SNOMED-Documents/snomed-release-file-specification/blob/main/3-release-types-packages-and-files/3.3-naming-conventions-for-release-packages-and-files)
* [Release Package Contents](/snomed-ct-specifications/snomed-ct-release-file-specification/release-types-packages-and-files/3.4-release-package-contents.md)
The following two sections provide detailed specifications of the release files.
* Section [Component Release Files Specification](/snomed-ct-specifications/snomed-ct-release-file-specification/component-release-file-specification/4-component-release-files-specification.md) contains details of release files that represent the main SNOMED CT components:
* Concepts
* Descriptions
* Relationships
* Section [Reference Set Release Files Specification](/snomed-ct-specifications/snomed-ct-release-file-specification/reference-set-release-file-specification/overview.md) contains details of release files that customize and enhance SNOMED CT by representing:
* Subsets of concepts and descriptions
* Maps to other code systems
* Language and dialect preferences for different terms
* Annotation of components
* Associations between components
* Other forms of configuration and extensibility
{% hint style="info" %}
**Historical Note on Current and Previous Release File Formats**
The standard format in which SNOMED CT has been distributed since 2012 is known as Release Format 2 (RF2). It was developed in response to extensive feedback on the original release file format, now known as Release Format 1 (RF1), in which SNOMED CT was distributed between its first release in 2002 and 2012. The RF1 format is now deprecated and no longer supported.
{% endhint %}
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