Email is a separate component of the internet from the World Wide Web, although both components are now largely integrated so that users can seamlessly use the two together. Email allows users to send electronic messages to any other user connected to the internet. Email messages can include just text, or can include any other information that can be transmitted by computer, such as images, sound and video as well as computer files or programs.
Each email user is assigned an email address, which works in similar fashion to a URL (uniform resource locator ) to allow email messages to be sent to the correct location. Email addresses are often allocated by internet service providers.
Email is a very efficient form of cheap, fast communication. It is much faster than the postal system, as information can be sent anywhere in the world in seconds. It also generally faster than using facsimile machines, and is much more versatile and usually cheaper. Unlike facsimile messages, email users do not usually pay long-distance telephone rates to send messages. Email messages can also be sent simultaneously to large numbers of recipients, using email mailing lists. Email is also an excellent medium for sending electronic data files, so that users anywhere in the world can share and work on the same files.
Together with access to web sites, email has permitted the development of telecommuting - giving workers the opportunity to work from home and transmit their work electronically.
