What Is an Email Attachment?
In the United States, the vast majority of homes have a computer. The homes that have computers also typically have Internet service, and even individuals who do not have regular Internet service still can access the Internet if they have a laptop they can take to an area with Wi-Fi. As a result, it's common for individuals who use computers to utilize email services. These individuals can send attachments with the emails they send, but what exactly is an email attachment, and why are they important?
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Definition
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An email attachment is any file that is connected to an email message and sent to a recipient via an email provider. The attachment may be a word processing document, picture, PDF, MP3 or other media file, or a video (if the file is small). Frequently they are used as an alternative to sending hard copies of data, especially if time to receive the data is limited.
Suppliers
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Almost all email providers who supply email services to clients permit emails to have email attachments. However, each provider has different stipulations on the attachments. Some providers limit the size (amount of data) of each attachment. Other providers allow only a certain number of attachments to be sent with one email. Some providers allow for a combination of these restrictions, allowing as many attachments as desired as long as the total size of the attachments does not exceed a total data amount.
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Users
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Email attachments can be used by anyone with a valid email account. They are used in business (e.g., to email a contract), but they also are used by members of the general population. Most often, if an attachment is non-business in nature, it is an attachment related to the sender or recipient, such a family photo.
Conveniences
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Email attachments have several levels of convenience. First of all, unlike postal mail, they can be sent completely for free. Secondly, email attachments are much faster than postal mail. They can get to the recipient within seconds of the sender sending the related email. Lastly, email attachments can be sent to oneself, which allows a user to access a file anywhere there is Internet access.
Dangers
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Despite the conveniences of email attachments, they are not without dangers. The primary danger associated with attachments is that the attachment will be a disguised virus, trojan or worm that will cause damage to the recipient's computer. Additionally, email attachments easily are forwarded, so confidentiality can be an issue.
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