epost

Epost, often written as e-post or epost in various languages, refers to electronic mail—the digital system for sending and receiving messages over computer networks. It covers personal correspondence, business communication, and institutional announcements, allowing text, files, and other data to be exchanged between users via email addresses.

The modern epost system originated with early computer networks in the 1960s and 1970s. The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) became the standard for sending messages in 1982, while retrieval commonly uses POP3 or IMAP. Messages are formatted with MIME to support attachments and rich content.

Typical operation involves a user composing a message in a mail user agent or webmail interface; the message is transmitted to an SMTP server, routed through networks, and stored in the recipient's mailbox until retrieved by POP3 or IMAP. Security measures include TLS for transport encryption and digital signatures (S/MIME, DKIM) to verify sender identity and protect integrity.

In many regions and organizations, epost also denotes secure or official messaging channels that complement ordinary email. Such services may require identity verification and provide encrypted delivery, auditable logs, and integration with digital identity systems for government or corporate communications.

Electronic mail remains a foundational technology for digital communication, with ongoing developments in security, privacy, and interoperability.