How an Email Actually Travels

SMTP submission · DNS routing · filtering · mailbox sync

1/7

Current Hop

Route map

Click any stage to inspect the handshakes that move one message from the sender to the recipient.

Note: The envelope is a simplified packet view; real mail systems may retry, queue, or route through extra relays.

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Sender mail client

MUA · SMTP submission

The sender presses send and the client prepares the message for network delivery.

MUA

Layer

Educational illustration of standard email delivery (SMTP/DNS/IMAP). The route is generalized for clarity and uses authored educational content only.