FIX Family of Standards

FIX currently supports four versions of the application messages that serve as the basis for standardization and automation of the electronic trading industry.  As of 2010, it is considered compliant to use fields, messages, and components as of the latest extension pack of FIX with any supported FIX version.

FIX Latest
The most current version of FIX that supports multiple asset classes and a wide range of trading life cycle business processes.  FIX employs a process of Extension Packs to add new functionality to the standard. There have been over 200 Extension Packs created for the FIX standard.

Version 5.0 Service Pack 2
Originally released in 2009 there have been a considerable number of extension packs created for FIX.5.0SP2. The FIX session protocol was separated from the application with the introduction of FIX.5.0

Version 4.4
FIX.4.4 is one of the most widely adopted versions oF FIX. FIX.4.4 covers multiple asset classes including fixed income instruments.

Version 4.2
FIX.4.2 is widely used for equities, FX, and listed derivatives trading.

FIXatdl
FIX Algorithmic Trading Definition Language (FIXatdl) – is an XML based standard to specify the user interface components for algorithmic trading.

MMT
The MMT (Market Model Typology) Initiative is committed to achieving a practical and common solution for standards
on post-trade data across all asset classes subject to MiFID II.

User Defined Fields
The table on this page summarizes currently used custom fields.  At this time, the available tag numbers in the user defined range of 5000 to 9999 have all been allocated.

Codelists
FIX supports external code lists for certain fields.

Unsupported Application Versions
The FIX Community discontinued support for earlier versions of FIX. The specifications are maintained on the website for these unsupported versions.

FIX supports multiple encodings to support a variety of uses and industry technology standards.

tagvalue (classic FIX)
The FIX tagvalue encoding is the original encoding and the most widely used encoding. A simple ASCII string format.

FIXML
FIXML is the XML encoding used within FIX. FIXML is widely adopted for derivatives post trade clearing and settlement globally. FIXML is also used for reporting.

Simple Binary Encoding (SBE)
SBE is a high performance binary encoding in use within the industry for market data dissemination. SBE was developed within the High Performance Working Group.

Google Protocol Buffers (GPB)
GPB is an encoding using Google Protocol Buffers. GPB encodings of FIX are often used within companies as part of internal message.

Javascript Object Notation (JSON)
Still under development and available as a release candidate, the JSON encoding is intended for both internal processing and the use of FIX application messages within web based applications and APIs.

Abstract Syntax Notation (ASN.1)
ASN.1 is an ISO standard encoding system that includes multiple encodings itself. ASN.1 support was added as part of the work of the High Performance Working Group.

FIX Adapted for Streaming (FAST)
FAST is a protocol designed to reduce bandwidth use and latency for market data dissemination.

The FIX Session Layer is widely adopted to provide reliable, ordered, recoverable communication between market participants.

FIX Session Layer
Recently refactored specification for the FIX Session Protocol supporting session profiles FIX.4.2, FIX4, FIXT, and LFIXT.  FIX4 is the most widely adopted of these session profiles.

FIX High Performance Session Layer (FIXP)
FIXP is the new high performance session layer that supports multiple modes of operation.

FIX Simple Open Framing Header (SOFH)
A simple and primitive message framing header that communicates two pieces of information, the length of a message and the encoding type of that message.

FIX-over-TLS (FIXS)
FIXS is the standard to secure FIX sessions using the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol.