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
- The sender composes an email using their email client (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail).
- The email client connects to the sender's email server (e.g., Gmail's SMTP server) using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
- The sender's email client sends the email to the email server, which stores it temporarily.
Step 2: Email Server Processing
- The email server processes the email, checking for any errors or issues (e.g., invalid recipient addresses).
- 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.
- The email server then breaks the email into smaller packets, called segments, to facilitate transmission over the internet.
Step 3: Transmission
- 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).
- The recipient's email server receives the email segments and reassembles them into the original email.
Step 4: Email Server Storage
- The recipient's email server stores the email in a database or mailbox, which is typically organized by the recipient's email address.
- 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
- 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).
- The email client requests a list of emails from the email server, which responds with a list of available emails.
- The email client then retrieves the emails from the email server, including the email sent by the sender.
Step 6: Inbox Display
- 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!