Email messages move in from one router to another
through a series of steps. Here is a simplified explanation of how email messages are routed from one router to another:
1. Sender's email client: The sender composes an email message using their email client (such as Gmail, Outlook, etc.) and clicks on the "Send" button.
2. Sender's outgoing server: The email client connects to the outgoing mail server (SMTP server) of the sender's email service provider (e.g., smtp.gmail.com) using the designated port (usually port 25 or 587).
3. Sender's server checks recipient's domain: The sender's server reads the recipient's email address from the message and extracts the domain (e.g., recipient) which is used to identify the recipient's email service provider.
4. DNS lookup: The sender's server performs a Domain Name System (DNS) lookup to translate the recipient's domain into the IP address of the recipient's mail server.
5. Connection to recipient's mail server: The sender's server establishes a connection with the recipient's mail server using the obtained IP address and the SMTP protocol.
6. Sending email to recipient's server: The sender's server sends the email message to the recipient's mail server over the established connection. It includes information like the sender's address, recipient's address, message content, etc.
7. Recipient's mail server checks recipient's mailbox: The recipient's mail server receives the email and determines which mailbox to deliver it to based on the recipient's email address.
8. Delivery to recipient's mailbox: The recipient's mail server delivers the email to the recipient's mailbox, where it is stored until the recipient accesses it using their email client.
Note: These steps can involve additional layers of authentication, encryption, spam filtering, and other security measures depending on the configuration and policies of the involved mail servers.
When an email message is sent, it goes through a series of steps, including being routed from one router to another. Here is a step-by-step explanation of how email messages move from one router to another:
1. Sender's email client: The sender composes an email message using their email client, such as Gmail, Outlook, or Thunderbird.
2. Sender's SMTP server: Once the sender clicks "send," the email client connects to the Sender's SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server. The SMTP server is responsible for sending outgoing mail.
3. DNS lookup: The SMTP server looks up the DNS (Domain Name System) MX (Mail Exchange) records of the recipient's email domain. MX records specify which servers are responsible for handling incoming emails for a particular domain.
4. SMTP server connection: Based on the MX record lookup, the sender's SMTP server establishes a connection to the recipient's SMTP server. This connection usually occurs over the internet using TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).
5. Sender's SMTP server relays: If the recipient's SMTP server is not directly accessible, the sender's SMTP server may relay the email to other SMTP servers to reach the destination server. This relaying process continues until the email reaches the recipient's SMTP server.
6. Recipient's SMTP server: Once the recipient's SMTP server receives the email, it uses various filters and spam detection mechanisms to determine if the email is valid and safe to deliver.
7. Mailbox delivery: If the recipient's server determines that the email is valid, it proceeds to deliver the email to the recipient's mailbox.
8. Recipient's email client: The recipient can then access the email through their email client, such as Gmail, Outlook, or any other email application, and view the message in their inbox.
It's important to note that the actual routing and delivery process may vary depending on the specifics of the email infrastructure being used, but these steps provide a general overview of how email messages move from one router to another.