Outbox vs sent email

The age-old confusion!

In email clients, "Outbox" and "Sent" folders serve similar purposes, but they have some key differences:

Outbox:

1. Temporary holding area: The Outbox is a temporary folder where emails are stored before they are actually sent. When you compose an email and click the "Send" button, it is moved to the Outbox.
2. Not yet sent: Emails in the Outbox have not been sent to the recipient's email server yet. They are still in the process of being transmitted.
3. May be retried: If an email in the Outbox fails to send, it will often be retried at a later time.

Sent:

1. Permanent record: The Sent folder is a permanent record of emails that have been successfully sent from your email account.
2. Already sent: Emails in the Sent folder have already been delivered to the recipient's email server and are no longer in the process of being transmitted.
3. No retry: Once an email is marked as "Sent", it will not be retried if it fails to deliver.

In summary:

• Outbox: Temporary holding area for emails that have not yet been sent.
• Sent: Permanent record of emails that have already been successfully sent.

Here's an example to illustrate the difference:

1. You compose an email and click "Send".
2. The email is moved to the Outbox.
3. The email is sent to the recipient's email server.
4. Once the email is delivered, it is moved to the Sent folder.

By understanding the difference between Outbox and Sent, you can better manage your email workflow and keep track of your sent emails.