How does mail go to inbox

Here's a step-by-step explanation of how email (or mail) goes from the sender's email client to the recipient's inbox:

Step 1: Sending Email

  1. The sender composes an email using their email client (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail).
  2. The email client connects to the sender's email server (e.g., Gmail's SMTP server) using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
  3. The sender's email client sends the email to the email server, which stores it temporarily.

Step 2: Email Server Processing

  1. The email server processes the email, checking for any errors or issues (e.g., invalid recipient addresses).
  2. If the email is valid, the email server adds a header to the email, which includes information like the sender's email address, recipient's email address, and the date and time the email was sent.
  3. The email server then breaks the email into smaller packets, called segments, to facilitate transmission over the internet.

Step 3: Transmission

  1. The email server sends the email segments to the recipient's email server (e.g., Gmail's POP3 or IMAP server) using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
  2. The recipient's email server receives the email segments and reassembles them into the original email.

Step 4: Email Server Storage

  1. The recipient's email server stores the email in a database or mailbox, which is typically organized by the recipient's email address.
  2. The email server may also apply filters or rules to the email, such as spam filtering or sorting emails into specific folders.

Step 5: Inbox Retrieval

  1. The recipient's email client (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail) connects to the recipient's email server using the Post Office Protocol (POP3) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP).
  2. The email client requests a list of emails from the email server, which responds with a list of available emails.
  3. The email client then retrieves the emails from the email server, including the email sent by the sender.

Step 6: Inbox Display

  1. The email client displays the retrieved emails in the recipient's inbox, including the sender's email address, subject line, and a brief summary of the email content.

And that's the journey of how email goes from the sender's email client to the recipient's inbox!