SMTP is the acronym for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. An Internet protocol is a standard that is set by a network working group to ensure that the Internet works properly as the technology evolves.
- SMTP defines everything that has to do with email. It defines the structure of addresses, domain name requirements and anything related to your email.
- If there weren't standards, the Internet wouldn't work. If you mistype an email address, it doesn't go anywhere because the receiving end doesn't know what to do with it, much like when the U.S. postal service returns an envelope to you that doesn't have the proper ZIP code.
- SMTP also defines requirements for Post Office Protocol (POP) and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) servers so that email is submitted properly.
- SMTP also determines how attachments are handled, how mailing lists work, sets limits on retrying to send to an address and anything else related to the email.
- Internet standards are published in documents that start with RFC (Request for Comment). If a new standard is called for, members of the Internet Engineering Task Force issue a document and request comments. After a time, the comment period is closed and the new RFC becomes the standard, superseding all previous standards.
