Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common and may be serious. As such disorders are identified principally on the basis of their symptoms, symptom-based classifications assume great importance. The Rome diagnostic criteria for FGIDs are widely used in both research and practice. Over time, the criteria have been revised as new data accumulate; the Rome IV criteria were recently released. The changes from the Rome III criteria principally reflect the data of literature reports and committee rec-ommendations based on all available evidence. Here, we offer a historical perspective and discuss the Rome IV changes. (Korean J Med 2017;92:349-353)