What is e-mail? An explanation The word e-mail is an abbreviation for electronic mail. An e-mail is an electronic message sent from one computer to another. E-mail is similar to the regular mail sent via the post office, but it also has some important differences.   E-mail postal mail The sender needs to know the recipient's address X X In order to receive mail, the sender needs an address X X Messages can be sent nearly instantaneously X   A message can be sent to many recipients simultaneously X   An envelope is necessary   X Another message can be attached to a message for the same price X   There is a possibility that someone other than the recipient will read your message X X

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