SMTP

Definition

SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is an internet standard for sending and receiving emails across IP networks.

Analogy

Think of SMTP as a mail carrier for the internet. Just like a mail carrier picks up letters from a mailbox and delivers them to their destination, SMTP is responsible for transferring emails from one server to another until they reach the recipient's inbox.

In other words

SMTP is the mail carrier of the internet, delivering emails from one server to another.

Why is SMTP important?

It's one thing to know what SMTP is, but that is worthless if you don't know why you should know what a code repository is in the first place. Let's break down the importance of this tech term based on two high level categories. We'll walk through an explanation as well as provide a score, 1-10, that shows you how much you should care about SMTP.

Pre-Product: 3/10

If you don't have a product yet, SMTP might not be a high priority for you. However, it's still useful to understand how emails are sent and received, as you may need to set up email communication for your startup in the future.

Live Product: 4/10

If you have a live product, SMTP becomes more important. Ensuring that your emails are delivered reliably and efficiently is crucial for maintaining communication with your users and customers. SMTP helps to make that happen.

SMTP important information

So you know what SMTP is, by definition. You know if you should care about it or not depending on your situation as a business/company/product. To dig in deeper, we will walk through some tools and processes so we can make sure you really have a solid grasp on SMTP.

Popular SMTP Servers

Some popular SMTP servers include SendGrid, Amazon SES, and Mailgun. These services handle the technical aspects of sending emails, allowing you to focus on creating and managing your email content.

Setting Up SMTP in Email Clients

When configuring an email client like Outlook or Thunderbird, you'll need to provide the SMTP server settings, such as the server address and port number, to ensure your emails are sent correctly.

Key Takeaways:

1. SMTP is the mail carrier of the internet, delivering emails from one server to another.
2. If you do not yet have a product, SMTP might not be a high priority but is still useful to understand for future email communication.
3. If you do have a product, SMTP is important for ensuring reliable and efficient email delivery.
4. Examples of SMTP include popular SMTP servers like SendGrid, Amazon SES, and Mailgun, and setting up SMTP in email clients.