EMAIL – NOTES FOR EXAMS
✅ Definition of Email:
Email (Electronic Mail) is a method of exchanging digital messages over the internet or other computer networks.
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It is a store-and-forward system: messages are stored on a server and forwarded to the recipient.
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Email can contain text, attachments (images, documents, videos), and links.
📜 History of Email – Chronology:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1965 | First use of email in MIT’s CTSS system for users to leave messages. |
| 1971 | Ray Tomlinson, a computer engineer, sent the first network email using ARPANET. He introduced the use of @ symbol. |
| 1978 | V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai developed a full-scale electronic mail system called EMAIL (disputed inventor). |
| 1980s | SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) was introduced. |
| 1996 | Hotmail launched as one of the first web-based email services. |
| 2004+ | Gmail launched by Google with large storage and fast search. |
🧠 Important Points:
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Inventor of email: Commonly credited to Ray Tomlinson (1971).
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First email message: Something like "QWERTYUIOP".
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Email uses SMTP for sending and POP3/IMAP for receiving.
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Common Email Service Providers: Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook.
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Email clients: Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook.
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Structure:
username@domain.com -
Attachments are sent using MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions).
📝 Email Components:
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To: Primary recipient.
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Cc (Carbon Copy): Others receiving a copy.
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Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy): Hidden recipients.
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Subject: Summary of the message.
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Body: The actual content.
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Attachments: Files sent with the email.
🌐 Protocols Used in Email:
| Protocol | Use |
|---|---|
| SMTP | Sending emails |
| POP3 | Receiving (download and delete) |
| IMAP | Receiving (syncs across devices) |
🧪 MCQs on Email:
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Who is known as the inventor of network email?
A. Vinton Cerf
B. Ray Tomlinson
C. Tim Berners-Lee
D. Steve Jobs
✅ Answer: B. Ray Tomlinson -
Which protocol is used to send email?
A. FTP
B. SMTP
C. POP
D. IMAP
✅ Answer: B. SMTP -
Which of the following symbols is used in an email address?
A. #
B. %
C. @
D. $
✅ Answer: C. @ -
What does POP stand for in email protocols?
A. Post Online Protocol
B. Protocol of Posts
C. Post Office Protocol
D. Package of Protocol
✅ Answer: C. Post Office Protocol -
What is the purpose of the Bcc field in email?
A. Shows priority
B. Sends to public groups
C. Hides recipients
D. Compresses files
✅ Answer: C. Hides recipients -
Which of the following is a web-based email service?
A. Firefox
B. Chrome
C. Outlook
D. MS Word
✅ Answer: C. Outlook
📝 Urdu Explanation (مختصر):
ای میل ایک ڈیجیٹل طریقہ ہے پیغامات بھیجنے کا جو انٹرنیٹ کے ذریعے ہوتا ہے۔
موجد: رے ٹاملنسن (1971)
@ کا استعمال ای میل ایڈریس میں اسی نے شروع کیا۔
اہم پروٹوکولز: SMTP (بھیجنے کے لیے)، POP3 / IMAP (وصول کرنے کے لیے)