E-mail | Definition & Facts - Encyclopedia Britannica

🤑 Explore Britannica's Newest Newsletter: Money Matters Learn More Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos e-mail Introduction & Top Questions References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Quizzes Which Came First? Vocabulary Quiz The Dating Game: Which Came First? Contents Technology The Web & Communication CITE verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/technology/e-mail Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

• Pressbooks - Electronic Mail (E-mail or email)
• Digital Commons@University of Nebraska Lincoln - Using Electronic Mail for Teaching and Learning
• Humanities LibreTexts - Electronic Mail (E-Mail)
• University of Babylon - Electronic Mail in the Internet (PDF)
• Cell Press - Heliyon - Enhancing the use of e-mail in scientific research and in the academy
• The Guardian - How did email grow from messages between academics to a global epidemic?
• Atlantic Canada Pressbooks Network - Communication at Work Seneca Edition - Emailing
• Montana State University - Effective E-mail Communication (PDF)
• BCcampus Open Publishing - Emails
• Lifewire - What Is Email aka Electronic Mail?

Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

• e-mail - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• e-mail - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

e-mail telecommunication Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: electronic mail, email Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 12, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions

What is an e-mail?

An e-mail is a message transmitted and received by computers through a network.

How does e-mail work?

An e-mail system works by allowing computer users on a network to send text, graphics, sounds, and animated images to other users.

How are e-mails sent and received?

E-mail can be simultaneously sent through different networks to groups or individuals. Network users typically have an electronic mailbox that receives, stores, and manages their correspondence. Recipients can elect to view, print, save, edit, answer, forward, or otherwise react to communications.

e-mail, messages transmitted and received by digital computers through a network. An e-mail system allows computer users on a network to send text, graphics, sounds, and animated images to other users. The "at sign" (@) in the middle of an email address, separating the name of the emailer from the domain name of the hosting terminal, is now one of the most popularly used and immediately recognizable symbols in the world.

In full: electronic mail (Show more) Key People: Vinton Cerf (Show more) Related Topics: emoji at sign spam phishing business e-mail compromise (Show more) See all related content

On most networks, data can be simultaneously sent to a universe of users or to a select group or individual. Network users typically have an electronic mailbox that receives, stores, and manages their correspondence. Recipients can elect to view, print, save, edit, answer, forward, or otherwise react to communications. Many e-mail systems have advanced features that alert users to incoming messages or permit them to employ special privacy features. Large corporations and institutions use e-mail systems as an important communication link between employees and other people allowed on their networks. E-mail is also available on major public online and bulletin board systems, many of which maintain free or low-cost global communication networks.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.