SMTP, which stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is the software that enables you to send e-mail messages from your email addresses. Without this, you won't be able to employ email apps or webmail. After you send a message, your SMTP server connects to a DNS server to find out where the e-mails for the recipient domain name are taken care of. Subsequently, it creates a connection to the remote mail server and trades details. In case the recipient mail box is present, your server transmits the message to the receiving POP/IMAP server and the latter brings that email to the precise mailbox in which the recipient can find it. If you'd like to send e-mails, it is recommended to make sure that the hosting company provides the service with their plans. Even though you work with an online form that website visitors use to contact you, you still need an active SMTP server for your hosting account for the form to operate.