Email Glossary for SaaS

Discover the most important email terms and definitions in our email glossary.

A

  • API - Application Programming Interface, An API is a toolbox of rules, methods, and tools that lets developers connect and interact with various software systems in their applications.
    The Plunk API is a RESTful API that allows developers to send emails from their applications.

B

  • Bounce - A bounce is an email that is returned to the sender because it cannot be delivered but may be delivered at a later time. For example because the recipient’s inbox is full.
  • Bounce Rate - The bounce rate is the percentage of emails that were not delivered to the recipient’s inbox.
  • Bulk Email - Bulk email is an email that is sent to multiple recipients.

C

  • Click-through Rate (CTR) - The click-through rate is the percentage of people who clicked on a link in an email.
  • Conversion Rate - The conversion rate is the percentage of people who clicked on a link in an email and completed the desired action.
  • Client - A client is a software that is used to send and receive emails. For example Gmail or Outlook.

D

  • DKIM - DomainKeys Identified Mail, DKIM is an email authentication method that uses a digital signature to verify the sender’s identity.
  • DMARC - Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance, DMARC is an email authentication method that uses SPF and DKIM to verify the sender’s identity.

E

  • ESP - Email Service Provider, An ESP is a company that provides email services.

F

  • Feedback Loop - A feedback loop is a service that allows email senders to receive notifications when their emails are marked as spam.

G

  • GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR is a regulation that protects the privacy of individuals in the European Union.
  • Graymail - Graymail is an email that is not spam but is not wanted by the recipient.

H

  • Hard Bounce - A hard bounce is an email that is returned to the sender because it cannot be delivered and will never be delivered. For example because the email address is invalid.
  • HTML - Hypertext Markup Language, HTML is a markup language that is used to create web pages and email layouts.
  • Headers - Email headers contain metadata about the email such as the sender, recipient, subject, and date.

I

  • IP Address - An IP address is a unique identifier for a device connected to the internet.
  • IMAP - Internet Message Access Protocol, IMAP is a protocol that allows emails to be accessed from a mail server.

J

  • JSON - JavaScript Object Notation, JSON is a data format that is used to exchange data between applications.

L

  • List - An email list is a collection of email addresses that are used to send emails

M

  • MTA - Mail Transfer Agent, An MTA is a software that transfers emails from one computer to another.
  • MX Record - Mail Exchange Record, An MX record is a DNS record that specifies which mail servers are responsible for receiving emails for a domain.
  • Marketing Email - Marketing email is an email that is sent to multiple recipients to promote a product or service.
  • Marketing automation - Marketing automation is the process of using software to automate marketing tasks such as sending emails.
  • MIME - Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, MIME is a protocol that allows emails to contain non-ASCII characters and attachments.

O

  • Open Rate - The open rate is the percentage of people who opened an email.

P

  • Personalization - Personalization is the process of customizing an email for each recipient.
  • Phishing - Phishing is a type of cyber attack that uses emails to steal sensitive information such as passwords or credit card details.
  • POP3 - Post Office Protocol 3, POP3 is a protocol that allows emails to be accessed from a mail server.

R

  • Reputation - An email sender’s reputation is a score that indicates how trustworthy they are.
  • Reply-to - A header that specifies the email address that replies should be sent to.
  • Rate limit - A rate limit is a limit on the number of emails that can be sent in a defined period of time.

S

  • SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, SMTP is a protocol that allows emails to be sent over the internet.
  • SPF - Sender Policy Framework, SPF is an email authentication method that allows email
  • Spam - Spam is unsolicited bulk email.

T

  • Transactional Email - Transactional email is an email that is sent to an individual based on a specific action they took.

U

  • Unsubscribe - Unsubscribe is the process of removing a recipient from an email list.

V

  • Verification - Verification is the process of confirming that an email address is valid.

W

  • Warmup - Warmup is the process of gradually increasing the number of emails sent from a new IP address to establish a good reputation.
  • Webhooks - Webhooks are a way for apps to communicate with each other in real-time. In email software, webhooks are indispensable for developers, as they provide the means to react to and handle important email-related events as they occur.