Are all mails in sent mail really sent

In the context of email clients and servers, "sent mail" typically refers to emails that have been successfully delivered to the email server's "sent" folder or queue. However, not all emails in the sent mail folder are necessarily "really sent" in the sense that they have been successfully delivered to the recipient's inbox.

Here are some scenarios where an email might be marked as "sent" but not actually delivered:

  1. Email server issues: If the email server experiences technical difficulties, such as a connectivity issue or a temporary outage, the email might not be delivered to the recipient's server.
  2. Recipient's email server issues: If the recipient's email server is down or experiencing issues, the email might not be delivered to their inbox.
  3. Email filtering or blocking: The recipient's email server or their email client might be configured to filter or block certain types of emails, including those from specific senders or with specific content.
  4. Email client errors: If the email client (e.g., Outlook, Gmail) experiences an error while sending the email, it might be marked as "sent" but not actually delivered.
  5. Email bounces: If the email address is invalid or the recipient's email server is configured to reject emails from certain senders, the email might bounce back to the sender's email client, even if it was marked as "sent".
  6. Emails stuck in queues: In some cases, emails might get stuck in the email server's queue due to various reasons, such as a high volume of emails, server overload, or network congestion. These emails might not be delivered to the recipient's inbox even if they are marked as "sent".

To ensure that your emails are actually delivered to the recipient's inbox, it's essential to monitor your email client's or server's logs and error reports. You can also use email tracking tools or services that provide additional insights into the delivery status of your emails.