CODEWITHSUNDEEP
smtp
user2953119
user2953119

Reputation:

Is SMTP protocol only for sending?

Is it possible to use SMTP as described in RFC 5321 to receive mail or is it prohibited by this spec?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 121

Answers (2)

Michael Petrotta
Michael Petrotta

Reputation: 60942

SMTP is used only for sending mail - transferring mail to mail servers, and between mail servers. POP and IMAP are two popular protocols (but not the only protocols) for mail user agents (end-user email clients) to retrieve mail, which I'm guessing is what you're asking about.

To put it a different way, an SMTP conversation is initiated by software that wishes to transmit email to another device. It's not usually used as the last-hop step to deliver email to a user - those conversations are usually initiated by software that wishes to receive the email.

Upvotes: 3

AnFi
AnFi

Reputation: 10913

ESMTP extensions for email receiving

SMTP is used to receive email servers listed in MX recerds from "all internet".

If you want to use it to receive your email from relay accepting emails from "all internet":

Both extensions are designed for "for domain emails" not for "single mailbox emails".

Upvotes: 0

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