Overview of E-mail Clients
The E-mail clients are associated with the system of client-server architecture. Popularly known as MUA or mail user agent, the E-mail clients set up a link between the e-mail users across the world. An e-mail client is nothing but an application program that operates through the network of workstations or personal computers. It is the system, which takes care of all e-mail related services. E-mail client is the master program that regulates the chain of compose ® send ® receive.
Functions of E-mail Clients
At the time of inception, e-mail clients were pretty simple. The subscribers of e-mail service used to take the help of e-mail clients for interpreting their electronic messages. E-mail clients run the mail delivery system in association with mail transfer agent and mail delivery agent. Once the mail is composed, the e-mail client starts reacting. The first step in the process involves sending of mails from the client's system to the central server. Now the central server directs the mails to their respective destinations.
Techniques Used by E-mail Clients
he system of E-mail clients uses a number of techniques to make the e-mail communication easier to the users. Besides using the popular techniques of the mail delivery agent and the mail transfer system, the e-mail clients also make use of several handy tools like Maildir and mbox. Maildir deals with the storage system of e-mails. The atomic filesystem brings about the required changes in the storing format. For temporary or local e-mail storage, E-mail clients take the help of relatively simpler versions of storing device. Mail submission agent also plays a crucial role in the delivery of e-mails.