Self-Hosted Email Server
A self-hosted email server is a software system that allows individuals or organizations to run their own email infrastructure on their own hardware or cloud servers, rather than relying on third-party email services like Gmail or Outlook. It typically includes components such as an SMTP server for sending emails, an IMAP/POP3 server for receiving and storing emails, and spam filtering tools. This setup provides full control over email data, security, and configuration, but requires technical expertise to set up and maintain.
Developers should learn about self-hosted email servers when building applications that require custom email handling, such as internal communication systems, privacy-focused services, or when integrating email into on-premises software. It's particularly useful for scenarios where data sovereignty, compliance with regulations like GDPR, or avoiding vendor lock-in are priorities. However, it's not recommended for casual use due to the complexity of managing deliverability, security, and maintenance.