MAIL, RCPT, DATA
04A transaction sets one reverse-path, one or more recipients, then transfers the message content.
Related RFCs and changes
“Updates” changes part of an earlier RFC. “Obsoletes” replaces it. This list shows selected related documents.
DIAGRAM§ 3.3 ↗
RFC 5321 · § 3.3EXAMPLE
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04
Finish and await the final reply.
Only the completion reply establishes acceptance of the message content.
Protocol participantThreat or exceptionProtocol controlSimplified drawings · precise section references
Read the updated RFC section ↗
Keep each transaction state explicit.
- MAIL starts a transaction and sets the reverse-path; each RCPT adds an accepted recipient.
- DATA begins content transfer only after a 354 intermediate reply.
- The final reply after the end-of-data marker determines acceptance of that message for the accepted recipients.
Recipients can succeed or fail independently at RCPT. RSET abandons transaction state; QUIT ends the session. A session can carry multiple mail transactions.
Read the RFC section ↗Diagrams simplify the RFC. Read the linked sections for complete requirements.
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