Email

Email (or electronic mail) is a method of exchanging messages ("mail") between people using electronic devices. Invented by Ray Tomlinson, email first entered limited use in the 1960s and by the mid-1970s had taken the form now recognized as email. Email operates across computer networks, which today is primarily the Internet.

History

Email has been in use, in various forms, since the 1960s. In the early days, it was used almost exclusively by the military and academia. The first email was sent by Ray Tomlinson in 1971. Tomlinson is also credited with introducing the "@" symbol in email addresses.

How Email Works

Email works by using a protocol such as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to send messages from one email address to another. SMTP is used to send the email, while protocols such as Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) or Post Office Protocol (POP3) are used to retrieve those messages at the recipient's email server.

Email Providers

There are many providers of email services. Some of the most popular include Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Outlook.com. These providers offer a range of features, including spam filtering, large storage capacities, and the ability to access your email from various devices.

Email Security

Email security is a significant concern. Threats can come in the form of spam, phishing attempts, and malware. Many email providers offer built-in security features, but users must also take precautions, such as not opening suspicious emails and not sharing sensitive information via email.

See Also

• Email client
• Email encryption
• Email etiquette
• Email spoofing

References

Email Resources
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