Internet Communications

Email Info

Email is short for Electronic Mail. In order for an email account to work, you need to have a few things. First you need an email provider or server. This often comes with your internet service provider such as AOL. Then you need to have the software for email, which is often called the client-software, loaded on your computer. Thirdly, you need to have an email account, which will require a username and password normally. By the way, the process going on when you enter a username and password is called authentication. Authentication is the server checking the user's credentials, almost like when a bouncer at a night club checks ID, the authentication process is designed to allow only those who are supposed to be in that account in that account.
Email is sent via a data packet. The packet is sent through the internet wires, to the specified address, much as a parcel is sent via the US mail, except for much, much, faster! The packet sits there (on the server) until the participant checks his/her mail and then deletes it.