A large percentage of the total traffic over the internet is email. Email was one of the first activities performed over the internet and is still the most popular use. However, users can also send non-text files - such as graphic images and sound files - as file attachments. With POP3, the email message is downloaded from the email service and stored on the requesting device and can only be accessed using the same device.Įmail messages are usually encoded in American Standard Code for Information Interchange ( ASCII) format. Alternatively, the Internet Message Access Protocol ( IMAP) can be used for receiving mail, as it enables access to email from any device, anywhere.

The TCP/IP suite of protocols provides a flexible email system that's built on basic protocols, including Simple Mail Transfer Protocol ( SMTP) for sending mail, and Post Office Protocol 3 ( POP3) for receiving mail. A mailing list that's administered automatically is called a list server.

Some mailing lists enable users to subscribe by sending a request to the mailing list administrator. A shared distribution list can be managed using an email reflector. Email can be distributed to lists of people as well as to individuals. Users can send emails from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection, which is typically provided by an internet service provider.Įmail is exchanged across computer networks, primarily the internet, but it can also be exchanged between both public and private networks, such as a local area network.

Emails are a fast, inexpensive and accessible way to communicate for business or personal use. Email (electronic mail) is the exchange of computer-stored messages from one user to one or more recipients via the internet.

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