How e mail is delivered using internet
Here's a step-by-step explanation of how email is delivered using the internet:
Step 1: Sending an Email
- You compose an email using an email client (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail) on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet).
- The email client sends the email to a mail server (e.g., Gmail's SMTP server) using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
- The mail server receives the email and stores it temporarily.
Step 2: Routing the Email
- The mail server checks the recipient's email address to determine the destination mail server.
- The mail server uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to look up the IP address of the recipient's mail server.
- The mail server sends the email to the recipient's mail server using the SMTP protocol.
Step 3: Receiving the Email
- The recipient's mail server receives the email and stores it temporarily.
- The mail server checks the email's headers to determine the sender's email address and the recipient's email address.
- The mail server delivers the email to the recipient's email client (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail) using the Post Office Protocol (POP) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP).
Step 4: Delivering the Email
- The email client receives the email from the mail server and stores it in the recipient's inbox.
- The email client displays the email to the recipient, allowing them to read, reply, or delete the message.
Internet Protocols Used
- SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): used for sending emails between mail servers.
- DNS (Domain Name System): used for resolving domain names to IP addresses.
- POP (Post Office Protocol): used for retrieving emails from a mail server to an email client.
- IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol): used for retrieving and managing emails on a mail server.
How the Internet is Used
- IP Addresses: each device on the internet is assigned a unique IP address, which allows devices to communicate with each other.
- Routers: devices that direct internet traffic between networks, ensuring that emails are routed to the correct destination.
- Networks: a collection of interconnected devices that allow data to be transmitted between them.
In summary, email delivery involves a series of steps that use various internet protocols and technologies to transmit emails between mail servers and email clients.