Email SMTP Key Terms

Learn the terms you need for understanding Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, and is the type of Internet protocol used to send mail from a Web site with email capabilities. If you receive mail through a mail-management software program, the program must be configured to retrieve mail using the SMTP address of the mail server site and the POP or IMAP address of your email client. Knowing SMTP terms is essential for setting up your external mail software and forwarding mail from one server to another.

 

SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is the process by which email messages are transferred over the Internet and stored on your mail server. Every Web site that sends or receives email has an SMTP address to identify where email messages come from. While SMTP initially dealt only with text messages, encoding now allows additional types of messages to be sent.
Try: Microsoft provides a brief explanation of Simple Mail Transfer Protocol on its support page.

Internet Service Provider

An Internet service provider, or ISP, is a company that provides access to the Internet. Most Internet service providers also offer email services and have their own SMTP addresses. If your email is run through your ISP, you will need to get the SMTP address from your Internet company.
Try: Find a concise definition of Internet Service Provider from NetLingo.

SMTP server

The SMTP server is the central location that routes email messages to individual recipients. If you retrieve your email through a Web-based email service, rather than downloading your messages to a mail client on your computer, then you receive your email directly from the SMTP server.
Try: Learn more about how an SMTP server functions from Indiana University.

Configuration

Configuration is the process you must go through in order to set up your external mail client to send and receive messages from an SMTP server. Configuration of your email involves finding the SMTP address and entering it into the settings for your mail client software program. From time to time, you may need to re-configure your mail when SMTP addresses change.
Try: Get a short walk-through of the configuration process for the Thunderbird mail client from Tech-Evangelist.com.

Authentication

Authentication, or SMTP-AUTH, is an additional communication process that takes place in sending and receiving email in which the mail client is required to log in to the SMTP server. Authentication requires the use of the mail user's password in order to log in and send or receive mail with the server.
Try: Fehcom provides a tutorial on SMTP authentication. 

Encryption

Mail sent from an SMTP server to a mail client is already encrypted and decrypted as it is sent over the Internet, but encryption can also describe an additional security measure to ensure that secure information cannot be accessed by non-authorized users. Encryption programs can be used to provide additional security without adding any steps to the actual email sending and receiving process for the user.
Try: Read a concise definition of the encryption process from BusinessDictionary.com.

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