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Email Server

An email server is a specialized computer program or software agent that is responsible for transferring electronic messages. It refers to a computer that is running the specialized software used to send a message from one computer to another computer through a network.

An email server works behind the scenes while the user interacts with a mail user agent, or MUA. The MUA is the interface that allows users to view their inbox. It reads messages from the MTA which categorizes everything in chronological order and also includes the return address, or path.

There are many different companies that operate email servers. They usually follow the simple mail transfer protocol, or SMTP, which is the standard for sending messages over the internet. Individual users access the SMTP through a post office protocol, or POP, which relays the message from the SMTP into the inbox.

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