SMTP stands for “Simple Mail Transfer Protocol” and describes a protocol in IT that enables emails to be sent in computer networks. This process is also known as email relaying.
It regulates the transfer of emails from an email client or an email application to an email server and from there to the recipient. STMP ensures that emails are routed to the correct recipients and provides mechanisms for processing errors or forwarding emails if the target SMTP server cannot be reached directly. It is a text-based protocol in which communication between email clients and servers takes place via commands and responses.
SMTP is used in combination with other email protocols such as POP3 (Post Office Protocol) or IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol). This combination forms the basis of the e-mail communication system, which is used worldwide for the transmission of messages.