Microsoft KB Archive/134368

Bob E-Mail: How to Read and Understand E-mail Addresses

PSS ID Number: Q134368 Article last modified on 08-11-1995

1.00

WINDOWS

= SUMMARY =

This article provides basic guidelines for reading or breaking-down electronic mail (e-mail) addresses.

= MORE INFORMATION =

Electronic mail addresses consist of two parts. The first part is the person the mail is sent to (the addressee); the second is the mail service provider.

A service provider is the company that the electronic mail is sent to. The provider stores the mail until it is requested by the addressee. An example of a commercial service provider is MCI Mail. A company or university may also act as a provider. To do this, the company or university purchases an Internet address of their own. Because of the cost and availability addresses, generally only large companies or universities have their own Internet address.

The following is a list of guidelines for electronic mail addresses:

  An address can contain comments. If the address does contain comments, the actual address will be contained in greater than and less than signs. An example of this would be: “This is a comment [mailto:bill@company.com bill@company.com]” The actual address is bill@company.com.   Addresses are split into two parts. The dividing character is the “@” (pronounced “at”) sign. To the left of the @ sign is the addressee. For example, in guideline 1, above, “bill” is the name to the left of the @. “Bill” is the person the mail is sent to, and Bill’s electronic mail name is “bill”. Electronic mail names can consist a person’s name. For example, Joe Smith may have the electronic mail name of Joesmith or Joes or Jsmith. Some people use a code, or nicknames to remain anonymous.   The first portion of the address may also contain special characters that are used to specify or subdivide individual locations under that provider. For example, in the address: “joesmith%computer@company.com”, the electronic mail name is “joesmith”, the location is “computer” and the service provider or company is “company.com”. The percent symbol is generally used for this purpose, however, other characters such as an underline(_) can be used. Spaces are never used in an electronic mail address.   The second portion of the address designates the service provider. This corresponds with an Internet Address. The provider can choose the name. The extension on the end of the name designates the type of provider. Generally, businesses use a .com extension, colleges use an .edu extension, and government agencies use .gov.   The mail address may start with “netmail!”. Generally, this is used when the person’s electronic mail address specifies an individual location under the service provider or company as pointed out in guideline 3. Most of the time, when a piece of electronic mail is sent the service provider is located, and then the addressee is located. If the addressee isn’t found, the electronic mail is sent to the service provider. Then, if the provider can’t be found, the sender receives a message that the mail couldn’t be delivered. Sometimes it is impossible to locate the individual location as shown in example 3. To fix this problem add the word “netmail!” to the beginning of the electronic mail address (but not the comment, if one). This tells the sending computer to only find the service provider, then send the electronic mail. This allows the service provider to send the electronic mail to the proper location. 

Category: Kbusage KBSubcategory: B_Mailroom

= Additional reference words: w_bob 1.00 IP i.p. email e-mail net =

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.