Where do mail drop photos go

When you send a photo via email or upload it to a cloud storage service, it doesn't just disappear into thin air. Here's what happens to your photo:

Email:

  1. Your email client: When you attach a photo to an email, it gets stored on your device (computer, phone, or tablet) in a temporary folder.
  2. Email server: When you send the email, your email client sends the photo to the email server of the recipient's email provider (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook).
  3. Recipient's email client: The recipient's email client downloads the photo from the email server and stores it in their device's temporary folder.
  4. Storage: The photo is then moved to the recipient's email provider's storage servers, where it's stored until the recipient deletes it or it's automatically deleted after a certain period.

Cloud Storage Services (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud):

  1. Your device: When you upload a photo to a cloud storage service, it gets stored on your device (computer, phone, or tablet) in a temporary folder.
  2. Cloud storage server: When you upload the photo, your device sends it to the cloud storage server, where it's stored in a secure data center.
  3. Data center: The photo is stored on multiple servers in the data center, which are designed to provide redundancy and ensure that your data is always available.
  4. Storage: The photo is then stored in a database or file system, where it's organized and indexed for easy retrieval.

Other Options:

  1. Social Media: When you upload a photo to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, it's stored on their servers.
  2. Photo Sharing Sites: When you upload a photo to photo sharing sites like Flickr or 500px, it's stored on their servers.
  3. Printed Copies: If you print a photo, it's stored in a physical location, such as a photo album or frame.

In summary, when you send a photo, it's stored on various devices, servers, and storage systems, depending on the method you use to share it.