The mail server relies on the IP addresses and DNS system attached to emails to ensure that every message is routed directly over the internet to the correct recipient, regardless of domain name .
Depending on the server settings, any mail server is responsible for either distributing outgoing emails (like an SMTP server) or receiving and managing incoming emails (like an IMAP server).
- The sender uses a computer to log into their email account and write a message. They must include the recipient’s email address along with the message before pressing send.
- Email is first sent to SMTP or outgoing email servers, where the server performs a DNS record check to translate the domain names in the email addresses into IP addresses that the servers can use to route the email.
- If the email is destined for a microsoft teams phone domain name within the same network, the first server can route the email to the correct IMAP server. However, if the mail is destined for a domain name on an IMAP server on a different network, the first SMTP server relies on unrelated SMTP servers to route the mail.
- Finally, the incoming mail server uses a protocol such as IMAP or POP to send all messages to the recipient’s computer. The recipient can then find the message in their account’s inbox.
Email Server Protocols
Email servers use a variety what are targeted lists and why do they matter of protocols to handle different aspects of email transmission and reception. Each protocol serves a unique function that facilitates seamless communication over the Internet.
Major email server protocols include:
1. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
The most common email transfer protocol, Mail Transfer Protocol, is the standard protocol for all outgoing mail servers.
When users make outgoing whatsapp database brazil mail requests, that is, when they press the send key to send an email, SMTP is the first protocol to handle the request. When sending an email, the email client opens a connection with the relevant SMTP server.
The server then requests data from the client. This data includes:
- Internet service provider’s SMPT server name
- Recipient’s email address
- Sender’s email address
- Email content
If the email addresses are in the same domain, the same SMTP server can route mail directly to the recipient’s domain name over the same network. Otherwise, the SMTP server uses DNS to identify the correct IP address for the recipient’s email domain name.
2. Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is the protocol that incoming email servers use. It is a protocol that manages and retrieves email messages. Therefore, it can only receive messages but not send emails.
Once the email reaches the recipient’s server, it is IMAP’s job to retrieve the emails and deliver them from the IMAP servers to the recipients’ inboxes.
In its simplest form, when you log in to read your email, IMAP retrieves your mail from your mail server and sends it to your client.
3. Post Office Protocol (POP)
Another mail server protocol that deals with incoming mail is the Post Office Protocol. It retrieves mail from mail servers and brings it to clients. The most common version used is POP’3.
POP may seem to move emails between mail servers in a similar way to IMAP, but there is one big difference.
POP allows you to download emails from your mail server to a single computer. It then deletes the email on the server. This is different from how IMAP works.