What Is an Email Client?

An email client is a computer program that reads and sends an e-mail. It’s different from a server. With the email client, all of your emails travel over the network and that’s stored on the server. Those servers can belong to an internet service provider like Comcast, the email providers like Gmail, or to the providers of web hosting such as GoDaddy.

The server is the main place where an email is collected and stored until you will not remove it.

What does an Email Client do?

An email client lets users organize email with folders, labels, or both. An integrated search engine makes it possible to find messages by details such as senders, subjects, times of receipt, and content.

In addition to email text, email clients also handle attachments, so you can send and receive computer files (such as images, documents or spreadsheets) via email.

An email client must connect with the network so that it can send and receive emails, and it is configured to access the email server of your provider. Once you download your email from the server of your provider to your computer you can use the application to read and to interact with your emails, even without an internet connection.

And email client offers you more robust functionality but the client must be configured correctly an on individual device separately to work with the server of your email provider.

MS Office 365 allows you to configure various clients like Apple Mail and Outlook as well. Here you can also use the native email clients or an Outlook application on your Windows, iPhone, or Android mobile devices.

Communication with Email Servers

This program has an ability to use a number of protocols that help to send and receive an email via server.

The messages are stored locally on your PC, usually when the POP protocol is used to download the emails from the server, or the folders and emails are synchronized with the server, typically when Exchange and IMAP protocol are used.

With Exchange and IMAP protocol, the email clients can access the same account and see the same folders and emails. All of the actions synchronize automatically.

Email clients use SMTP to send an email almost exclusively. Some of the email services offer APIs to the email clients that allow them to access mail on their servers.

Historically, the X.400 was considered one of the important alternative protocols for email that was used during the 1990s. It is harder to implement as compared to other modern protocols that make it possible for business and government entities to use to protect data.

Why Should You Use a Desktop Email Client?

Desktop email clients are popular because they are great for writing, reading, and receiving emails. They are also a great productivity tool that allows users people to manage their emails with just a little effort. They can also be customized to the email needs of a user.

Also, you’re getting offline support, which is great for information and email management. Offline access is available only for the native email clients.

Quick Pros & Cons for POP vs. IMAP

Both systems have their advantages and their drawbacks and it would be up to you to determine if you prefer one or the other. What you need will depend on the type of device you use, the amount of data you send, as well as your security concerns.

If you are planning to start your email marketing career, both of these options might be viable. You might want to consult the Email Marketing Rules by Chad S. White and go point by point before you finally decide.