SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

Common protocols: SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

1.3.2 Wired and wireless networks, protocols and layers

Wired and wireless networks, protocols and layers — Note 12 of 13

What you need to know

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending emails. It handles the delivery of outgoing emails from your email client to the recipient's email server.

What to know

SMTP handles OUTGOING email only. POP and IMAP handle INCOMING email.
SMTP delivers emails from your email client to the recipient's email server.

Key terms

Exam tipCommon mistake

SMTPSimple Mail Transfer Protocol: The protocol used for SENDING emails from one email server to another across the Internet.
Exam tip: SMTP = SENDING. POP/IMAP = RECEIVING. A common exam question is to identify which protocol is used in each direction.

Ready to test yourself?

Practise 1.3.2 questions

← Previous noteIMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)1.3.2 Wired and wireless networks, protocols and layers Next note →The concept of layers1.3.2 Wired and wireless networks, protocols and layers

Back to Wired and wireless networks, protocols and layers

Revise another OCR GCSE topic: Networks and topologies