Webmail

Webmail is a way of using email directly in a web browser, without installing a separate mail program. The user logs in on the mail provider's site and reads, writes and organises messages there, while all the data stays on the server — access is possible from any device connected to the internet.

How webmail works

The webmail interface is a web application that communicates with a mail server in the background. Sending happens through the SMTP protocol, while receiving and folder synchronisation usually go through IMAP, so the same mailbox state is visible in the browser and in mobile apps. The whole session takes place over HTTPS so that the login, password and message contents are encrypted in transit between the browser and the server.

Webmail versus a mail client

Webmail is often the most convenient option when you need quick access to email from someone else's or a temporary device — it requires no configuration or installation. A locally installed mail client, in turn, offers offline work, integration with the operating system and greater capacity to manage multiple accounts. In both cases the real delivery of messages depends on correct domain configuration, including SPF records, which affects deliverability. Webmail is usually a standard part of the email package bundled with hosting, alongside mailbox accounts and anti-spam tools. For a company, then, webmail tends to be a handy complement to a mail client rather than a replacement — both can be used at once on the same account thanks to IMAP synchronisation.