Email Basics

An email alias is an additional email address that points to an existing mailbox, allowing users to receive messages at multiple addresses without creating separate accounts. Unlike forwarding, an alias is directly attached to your primary account and shares the same inbox, storage, and settings. Email aliases are widely used for privacy protection, professional branding, and inbox organization.

An email sender is the individual, organization, or system that originates and transmits email messages to recipients. The sender identity encompasses the From address, sender name, and underlying technical infrastructure including authenticated domains, IP addresses, and sending reputation. Sender identity is critical for email deliverability, as mailbox providers evaluate sender reputation to determine whether messages reach the inbox or spam folder.

Email types refer to the different categories of email messages classified by their purpose, content, and sending method. The main categories include transactional emails, marketing emails, promotional emails, newsletters, and automated emails. Understanding email types helps marketers choose the right approach for each communication goal and ensures compliance with regulations.

Inbound email refers to messages received by a mail server or user from external sources. In email marketing and business communication, inbound emails include customer inquiries, support requests, replies to campaigns, and any correspondence that arrives in your inbox. Managing inbound email effectively is essential for customer service, lead capture, and maintaining healthy communication workflows.