Internet E-Mail Related Protocols

The architecture and technical specifications of the Internet are the result of numerous research and development activities conducted over a period of over two decades, performed by the network research and development community, by service and equipment vendors, and by government agencies around the world.

This chapter focuses on Internet e-mail related specifications. First we provide an overview of how Internet specifications are published. Next the Internet standardization process is described. Then an overview of e-mail specifications and their inter-relationship is presented. Each specification is then briefly discussed.