Message anatomy
01Header fields and an optional body are separated by an empty line.
Related RFCs and changes
“Updates” changes part of an earlier RFC. “Obsoletes” replaces it. This list shows selected related documents.
DIAGRAM§ 2.1 ↗
RFC 5322 · § 2.1EXAMPLE
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03
Read the body.
Following content belongs to the message body.
Protocol participantThreat or exceptionProtocol controlSimplified drawings · precise section references
RFC 2822RFC 5322
RFC 5322 obsoletes RFC 2822. Appendix B records the format changes; the separation of fields and body remains.
Read the updated RFC section ↗The empty line is a structural boundary.
- Header fields describe the message; the body follows a blank CRLF line.
- SMTP delivery is specified separately in RFC 5321.
MIME and internationalized fields extend this base format.
Read the RFC section ↗Diagrams simplify the RFC. Read the linked sections for complete requirements.
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