Absender

Absender is a German noun meaning the sender of a message, letter, parcel, or other communication. It designates the party that initiates the transfer and is typically paired with the Empfänger, the recipient. The term is used in both physical and digital contexts to refer to the originator of content or goods.

In traditional mail and parcel shipments, the Absender’s address appears on the sender’s side of the envelope or on the shipping label. It serves for return delivery if the item cannot be delivered, for addressing issues, and for identifying the origin of the item. On international shipments, the Absender data is often required for customs procedures.

In electronic communications, the Absender corresponds to the From address or the sender field. It identifies who sent the message but may be forged or spoofed. Email authentication mechanisms such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are used to verify that the indicated Absender actually belongs to the sending domain and to reduce abuse.

Beyond mail and email, Absender is used in logistics and messaging to refer to the originator of content or goods. The concept is important for accountability, traceability, and customer records, and is a common element in privacy and anti-spam considerations.