Difference Between Email And Gmail

Email is basically Short for electronic mail. Email (or e-mail) is defined as the transmission of messages over communications networks. It’s sort of digital message exchange whereas Gmail is an email service provided by Google. There are also other services available in the market, but Gmail is popular one. So it’s always confused as an alternative option of email, like General Message mechanism or something.

Gmail is the most popular and widely used email service offered by Google. Email has come a long way since it first entered the scene in the 1960s and got a better hold of the communication ecosystem by 1980s.

 Initially, the messages were only text-based and they were encoded in ASCII text but technological advancement has extended the use of Email to carry not only text but also multimedia content including graphics, images, and videos. From a text-based message exchanging service, Email has revolutionized the communication scene to become a worldwide phenomenon.

What Is Email?

The email refers to the whole process of exchanging electronic messages over the web where the emails not only carry text but also many different multimedia contents including images, graphics, and videos. The message is commonly referred to as a “mail” which is the most popular means of communication these days.

The message usually consists of two major sections – the header and the body. The message header, as the name suggests, provides a detailed log of the sender and the recipient along with the subject line and date.

There can be one or many recipients depending on the type of message. The header usually marks the beginning of the mail which is essentially the destination (recipient) of the mail. The body of the message is the main part of the Email which contains the original message as text along with other data as attachments such as graphics, images, videos etc.

The current format for the Email message is defined in the Request for Comments document “RFC 5322” which is specified in the Internet Message Format (IMF) – a standardized ASCII-based syntax for text messages exchanged between computers.

Most electronic devices come with built-in email support, providing a basic text editor for composing new emails. Using the editor, users can either create a new email or copy the content directly into the email composer. However, users must have the recipient’s email address to send an email. The email address is unique to each user for a single account. But, users are free to create more than one email account to have more email addresses for specific purposes.

What You Need To Know About Email

• Email, short for “electronic mail”, is an electronic means of exchanging digital messages via the internet using electronic devices such as the smart-phone, laptop, tablet, desktop, etc.
• It allows the user to have multiple accounts of the E-mail service providers and manage all the accounts at the same place.
• The current format for the Email message is defined in the Request for Comments document “RFC 5322” which is specified in the Internet Message Format (IMF).
• Email cannot work without an Email client or the platform, such as Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, etc.
• The Email displays URLs as a kind of tap-able link.

What Is Gmail?

Gmail is just an email service offered by Google and it’s one of the most popular email clients in the world. It has been known to be the “best” email for quite some time, although many email services Yahoo mail, Outlook, Rediffmail, WebMail, are catching up.

Gmail is known for having excellent spam filters, it can be run/used with multiple third party extensions, and on top of that, if you have access to Gmail, you have access to a wide variety of Google services like Contacts, Hangouts, Sheets, Docs, etc.

Most email applications like Gmail follow the POP protocol. The protocol simply allows users to download emails to their computer from the server, which are then deleted from the mail server once delivered. IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is the most popular internet message protocol which allows users to check their email messages from several different devices.

The idea of the web-based email was first developed by the Google developer Paul Buchheit in the 1990s preceding the dispatch of Hotmail before Gmail was made available to the general public in 2004.

It was initially designed for people already working at Google but eventually turned out to be revolutionary and a decade’s worth of hard work and continued evolution only adds to its momentous success.

Over time, Gmail has become the dominant webmail service adopted by millions of users around the world. Besides its basic integration with the Google Account, Gmail is now a fully featured email service integrated with all the major services and products offered by Google such as Google+, Google Drive, Hangouts, YouTube, Google Calendar, and more.

 It’s free and user-friendly, so people widely use it despite controversies around Google’s policies towards data protection. There are also several useful plugins created for Gmail only, like proofreading apps, sharing contacts, tracking who opened an email, and many more.

What You Need To Know About Gmail

• Gmail is a web-based email service developed by Google to send and receive email content via the internet. In other words, Gmail is one of the platform’s through which Email can be sent.
• It allows the users to send or receive E-mails from other service providers. It provides a storage place, an organized management system and identification of spam and promotional E-mails.
• Gmail is a free web-based service that allows users to send and receive electronic messages either using the web or via third-party applications through POP or IMAP protocols.
• Gmail is the most popular Email client that is packed with additional features such as inbuilt virus protection, spam filtering, scheduling, Email reminder, Recurring Emails, and more.
• Gmail is an Email service provider that allows users to create a Google account associated with a unique Email ID. Gmail IDs end with @gmail.com.
• Gmail does not support a tap-able link feature.

Email vs Gmail: Key Differences

• Platform Ownership: Email is a generic term for various electronic messaging systems. It’s a protocol for sending and receiving digital messages. Gmail is a specific email service provided by Google. It’s a web-based platform that implements the email protocol, allowing users to manage their electronic correspondence through a user-friendly interface.
• Provider and Integration: Email services are provided by many organizations, from internet service providers to independent platforms. Gmail, being a product of Google, integrates seamlessly with other Google services like Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Docs. This integration streamlines tasks by allowing users to access multiple features under a single Google account.
• Storage and Accessibility: Traditional email services might have limitations on mailbox storage, requiring users to manage their inbox and delete older messages. Gmail offers a lot of free storage space, reducing the need for constant pruning. Also, Gmail’s cloud-based structure enables users to access their messages from any device with an internet connection.
• User Interface and Features: Email clients are different in terms of user interface and features, depending on the software or service being used. Gmail boasts a user-friendly interface with advanced features like customizable labels, powerful search capabilities, and intelligent spam filtering, enhancing user productivity and organization.
• Security and Privacy: Security practices can differ between email providers. Gmail incorporates robust security measures such as two-factor authentication, phishing detection, and encryption for data in transit. While email can also be secured through encryption, Gmail’s integration with Google’s security infrastructure offers an added layer of protection.
• Customization and Personalization: Email clients may offer limited customization options, usually centered around email signatures and basic themes. Gmail provides users with a lot of customizable themes, organization tools and filters. It allows individuals to tailor their inbox layout and appearance according to their preferences.

Email vs Gmail: Key Takeaways