What is a mail server?A mail server -- also known as a mail transfer agent, or MTA; mail transport agent; mail router; or internet mailer -- is an application that receives incoming email from local users and remote senders and forwards outgoing messages for delivery. A computer dedicated to running these applications is also called a mail server. Microsoft Exchange, Exim and Sendmail are common examples of mail server programs. Show
A mail server works with other programs to create a messaging system. A messaging system includes all the applications necessary to keep email moving smoothly. When an email is sent, a program, such as Microsoft Outlook, forwards the message to a mail server. The mail server then forwards the message to either another mail server or to a holding area on the same server to be forwarded later. What are the types of mail servers?Mail servers can be divided into two categories: incoming mail servers and outgoing mail servers. An incoming mail server stores mail and sends it to a user's inbox. Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) are the two main types of incoming mail servers. POP3, for example, downloads email from a server and stores incoming email messages on a single device until the user opens the email client. Once the user downloads the email, it is automatically deleted from the server, unless the "keep mail on server" setting is enabled. Many internet service providers offer their users POP3 email accounts, as they are more space efficient. IMAP servers enable users to preview, delete and organize emails before transferring them to multiple devices from the email server. Copies of emails are left on the server until the user deletes them. An outgoing mail server operates by having a user's machine communicate with Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), which handles the email delivery process. SMTP servers work with other types of mail servers, namely POP3 or IMAP, to send emails from email clients.
What is the process of sending an email?The following steps show the general process of sending an email:
On-premises vs. cloud mail serversEmail servers can be located on premises or be cloud-based. On-premises servers are physical servers that are at an organization's location. The organization must manage and maintain all servers and infrastructure. Cloud-based servers are virtual and are hosted using cloud computing. There is no one right option for every organization, as it depends on the business. On-premises mail servers use the organization's servers, receiving all emails and sending them to an indexed database. On-premises servers typically require a larger upfront investment for hardware, installation and management. The potential for scalability is also less immediate compared to email servers hosted in the cloud. The organization is responsible for providing security. Cloud-based email servers, such as Amazon Simple Email Service (SES), operate the same way as on-premises servers, but the data is stored in a cloud environment that a separate vendor provides. There is typically a monthly fee included, set up as a pay-as-you-go pricing method. Scaling is usually easier and more immediate compared to on-premises servers since an organization is just using more of the vendor's resources instead of having to add more physical server space. The cloud vendor provides security. Considerations for choosing a mail serverAn organization must take the following into account before choosing a mail server:
What are examples of mail servers?There are many different free and paid mail servers that use SMTP. Some examples are the following:
How to find mail server informationIf users are trying to add their email account to another mail app, they may need the POP, IMAP or SMTP server settings. Gaining access to mail server information differs by platform. Microsoft Outlook for PC
Apple Mail for macOS
iPhone (iOS 14)
Android devices (Android 11)
Learn more about SMTP and important email security protocols in this article. This was last updated in September 2021 Continue Reading About mail server (mail transfer/transport agent, MTA, mail router, internet mailer)
What is another computer that screens all your incoming and outgoing messages?A proxy server is another computer that screens all your incoming and outgoing messages.
Which of the following is a program that finds websites and webpages?A search engine is a special kind of website that helps users find web pages from other websites.
Is a language that one computer uses to ask another computer for a document?HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. You can kind of think of it as the language that one computer uses to ask another computer for a document.
What is the name of the network that became functional in 1969?The U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was the first public packet-switched computer network. It was first used in 1969 and finally decommissioned in 1989.
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