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knowledge/technology/internet/eMail.md
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concept https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Email

eMail

Email, short for electronic mail, is a widely used method of exchanging digital messages over the Internet. It has become an integral part of personal and business communication, enabling the rapid and efficient exchange of information.

Key Components

1. Email Address:

  • An email address uniquely identifies an individual or entity in the email system. It typically consists of a local part (username) and a domain part (e.g., username@example.com).

2. Mail User Agent (MUA):

  • The Mail User Agent is an email client or application used by individuals to compose, send, receive, and manage emails. Examples include Outlook, Thunderbird, and Gmail.

3. Mail Transfer Agent (MTA):

  • The Mail Transfer Agent is responsible for routing and transferring emails between servers. Common MTAs include Sendmail, Postfix, and Microsoft Exchange.

4. Mail Delivery Agent (MDA):

  • The Mail Delivery Agent stores incoming emails in the recipient's mailbox. Examples include Dovecot and Courier.

5. Protocols:

  • SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): Used for sending and relaying emails between servers.
  • POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3): Retrieves emails from a server and typically deletes them from the server after retrieval.
  • IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol): Allows users to access and manage emails on the server, supporting multiple devices.

6. Email Headers:

  • Email headers contain metadata about the message, including sender, recipient, subject, date, and other routing information.

7. Attachments:

  • Emails can include attachments, such as documents, images, or other files, which are transmitted along with the message.

Email Workflow

  1. Composition:
    • The sender uses an MUA to compose an email, addressing it to one or more recipients.
  2. Sending:
    • The MUA uses SMTP to send the email to the recipient's email server (MTA).
  3. Routing:
    • The recipient's MTA receives the email, checks the recipient's address, and relays it to the appropriate MDA.
  4. Delivery:
    • The MDA stores the email in the recipient's mailbox, making it accessible for retrieval.
  5. Retrieval:
    • The recipient's MUA retrieves emails from the server using POP3 or IMAP.