What Is SMTP? – SMTP Server Explained

In the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) model, the sender’s email client or server acts as the SMTP client, and the sender’s email server acts as the SMTP server. This client initiates a connection to the server and transmits the email, complete with recipient details, subject, and body. The server processes this email and determines the suitable next server based on the recipient’s address. This next server could either be another SMTP server in the transmission route or the final destination, i.e., the recipient’s email server. Once the message arrives at the recipient’s server, it’s delivered to the recipient’s inbox using a different protocol, such as POP or IMAP.