XEP-0246: End-to-End XML Streams

This specification defines methods for communicating via end-to-end XML streams over a logical or physical connection that provides a reliable transport between two endpoints.
Peter Saint-Andre
© 1999 – 2020 XMPP Standards Foundation. SEE LEGAL NOTICES.


Standards Track
0.1.1 (2016-01-20)
Document Lifecycle
  1. Experimental
  2. Deferred
  3. Proposed
  4. Draft
  5. Final

1. Introduction

XMPP as defined in XMPP Core [1] does not support direct interaction between endpoints, since it requires a client to authenticate an XML stream with a "home" server and send of all of its outbound XML stanzas through that server (which potentially can route those stanzas through a peer server for delivery to the intended recipient). However, in some scenarios it is desirable to establish end-to-end XML streams between two endpoints instead of relying on the standard client-server architecture. These scenarios include:

The first scenario is addressed by Link-Local Messaging (XEP-0174) [2]. The second and third scenarios are addressed by Jingle XML Streams (XEP-0247) [3]. Both of those technologies result in the establishment of a direct or mediated connection between two endpoints, such as a direct TCP connection, a bytestream through SOCKS5 (SOCKS5 Bytestreams (XEP-0065) [4]) or XMPP itself (In-Band Bytestreams (XEP-0047) [5]), or other future transport methods such as RFC 6544 [6].

Once two endpoints have opened a direct or mediated connection, they can establish an XML stream over that connection for end-to-end "("e2e") communication. We call this an "e2e stream".

2. Initiating an e2e Stream

The initiator and recipient essentially follow the process defined in RFC 6120 to establish XML streams between themselves.

First, the initiator opens an XML stream to the recipient over the negotiated transport.

Example 1. Opening a Stream

In accordance with RFC 6120, the initial stream header SHOULD include the 'to' and 'from' attributes. In the case of XEP-0174, these SHOULD be the username@machine-name advertised in the PTR record. In the case of Jingle XML Streams, these SHOULD be the bare JIDs (<localpart@domain.tld> or <domain.tld>) of the entities as communicated via XMPP.

If the initiator supports stream features and the other stream-related aspects of XMPP 1.0 as specified in RFC 6120, then it SHOULD include the version='1.0' flag as shown in the previous example.

The recipient then responds with a stream header as well:

Example 2. Stream Header Response

If both the initiator and recipient included the version='1.0' flag, the recipient SHOULD also send stream features as specified in RFC 6120:

Example 3. Recipient Sends Stream Features
  <starttls xmlns='urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:xmpp-tls'/>

3. Stream Encryption

The mere exchange of stream headers results in an unencrypted and unauthenticated channel between the two entities. The entities SHOULD upgrade the channel to an encrypted stream using the XMPP STARTTLS command defined in XMPP Core [1] using RFC 5246 [7], optionally followed by SASL negotiation for mutual authentication (see RFC 4422 [8]).

End-to-end XML streams can be negotiated between two XMPP clients, between an XMPP client and a remote XMPP service (i.e., a service with which a client does not have a direct XML stream, such as a remote Multi-User Chat (XEP-0045) [9] room), or between two remote XMPP services. Therefore, if standard X.509 certificates are used then a party to an e2e XML stream will present either a client certificate or a server certificate as appropriate. If X.509 certificates are used, they MUST at a minimum be generated and validated in accordance with the certificate guidelines guidelines provided in RFC 6120 [1]; however, applications of end-to-end XML streams MAY define supplemental guidelines for certificate validation in the context of particular architectures, such as XEP-0174 for link-local streams and XEP-0247 for direct or mediated streams negotiated through XMPP servers.

To ease the transition from the PGP-based object encryption method specified in Current Jabber OpenPGP Usage (XEP-0027) [10], clients using TLS for e2e streams MAY use the OpenPGP TLS extension defined in RFC 5081 [11] (if available).

Use of other TLS extensions MAY be appropriate as well, including those defined in RFC 5246 [7] and RFC 5054 [12].

4. Exchanging Stanzas

Once the streams are established, either entity then can send XMPP message, presence, and IQ stanzas, with or without 'to' and 'from' addresses.

Example 4. Sending a Message
<message from='romeo@forza' to='juliet@pronto'>
  <body>M'lady, I would be pleased to make your acquaintance.</body>
Example 5. A Reply
<message from='juliet@pronto' to='romeo@forza'>

5. Ending an e2e Stream

To end the stream, either party closes the XML stream:

Example 6. Closing the Stream

The other party then closes the stream in the other direction as well:

Example 7. Closing the Stream

Both parties then SHOULD close the logical or physical connection between them.

6. Security Considerations

End-to-end streams SHOULD be encrypted; see the Stream Encryption section of this document.

7. IANA Considerations


8. XMPP Registrar Considerations

This document requires no interaction with the XMPP Registrar [14].


Appendix A: Document Information

XMPP Standards Foundation
Standards Track
Last Updated
Approving Body
XMPP Council
Superseded By
Short Name
Source Control

This document in other formats: XML  PDF

Appendix B: Author Information

Peter Saint-Andre





Disclaimer of Warranty


Limitation of Liability


IPR Conformance


Visual Presentation


Appendix D: Relation to XMPP


Appendix E: Discussion Venue



Errata can be sent to <editor@xmpp.org>.

Appendix F: Requirements Conformance


Appendix G: Notes


2. XEP-0174: Link-Local Messaging <https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0174.html>.

3. XEP-0247: Jingle XML Streams <https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0247.html>.

4. XEP-0065: SOCKS5 Bytestreams <https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0065.html>.

5. XEP-0047: In-Band Bytestreams <https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0047.html>.

6. RFC 6544: TCP Candidates with Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6544>.





11. RFC 5081: Using OpenPGP Keys for Transport Layer Security (TLS) Authentication <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5081>.

12. RFC 5054: Using the Secure Remote Password (SRP) Protocol for TLS Authentication <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5054>.



Appendix H: Revision History


  1. Version 0.1.1 (2016-01-20)

    Updated missing 'ice-tcp' reference to RFC 6544.

    XEP Editor (mam)
  2. Version 0.1 (2008-06-18)

    Initial published version.

  3. Version 0.0.1 (2008-06-13)

    First draft, split off from XEP-0174.


Appendix I: Bib(La)TeX Entry

  title = {End-to-End XML Streams},
  author = {Saint-Andre, Peter},
  type = {XEP},
  number = {0246},
  version = {0.1.1},
  institution = {XMPP Standards Foundation},
  url = {https://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0246.html},
  date = {2008-06-13/2016-01-20},