Which Two Protocols May Devices Use in the Application Process That Sends Email? (Choose Two.)

Email communication remains a cornerstone of digital interaction, and understanding the underlying protocols that support the transmission and retrieval of emails is essential, especially for IT professionals preparing for certification exams. If you're studying for CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, or other networking-related certifications, you’ve probably come across the question:

"Which two protocols may devices use in the application process that sends email? (Choose two.)"

In this blog, presented by DumpsQueen Official, we will answer this question thoroughly, break down each protocol’s role in the email-sending process, and help you understand why this topic is a staple in IT certification exams.

Understanding Email Protocols

Before we dive into the answer, let’s briefly explore what email protocols are. Email protocols are sets of rules that define how email messages are sent, received, and accessed by clients and servers. These protocols ensure interoperability between various email systems and help deliver messages accurately and securely.

There are several protocols involved in email communication, but two of them are specifically responsible for sending emails. Let's identify them.

Answering the Question: "Which Two Protocols May Devices Use in the Application Process That Sends Email? (Choose Two.)"

The correct answer is:

✅ SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
✅ MAPI (Messaging Application Programming Interface)

Let’s discuss both of them in detail.

1. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

SMTP is the primary protocol used to send emails from a client to a server or between servers. It operates over port 25 by default but can also use ports 587 or 465 for secure communication.

Key Features of SMTP:

Used for sending and forwarding emails.
Operates at the application layer of the OSI model.
Facilitates transmission between mail clients and mail servers.
Doesn’t support email retrieval or storage.

How SMTP Works in the Email Sending Process:

When a user composes an email and hits "Send," SMTP transfers the message from the email client (like Outlook or Gmail) to the mail server, and then from that server to the recipient’s mail server.

SMTP is stateless and push-based, meaning it initiates a connection to send the message but does not maintain the connection after the delivery is completed.

2. MAPI (Messaging Application Programming Interface)

MAPI is another protocol that can be used to send emails, particularly in Microsoft environments. Developed by Microsoft, MAPI is used by Outlook and Exchange servers to manage email messages, contacts, and calendar events.

Key Features of MAPI:

Allows sending and retrieving of emails.
Provides a full-featured API for email communication.
Enables tight integration between email clients and Exchange Servers.
Supports advanced features like attachments, meeting invites, and shared calendars.

Why MAPI is Considered in Email Sending:

Although not as universally recognized as SMTP, MAPI does support email sending as part of its broader suite of messaging capabilities. It's essential to understand this distinction, especially if you’re in a Microsoft-based infrastructure.

Common Misconceptions: POP3 and IMAP Are Not for Sending Emails

When studying email protocols, many learners confuse POP3 and IMAP with sending functions. It’s critical to remember:

POP3 (Post Office Protocol v3) is used to retrieve emails from a server.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is also used for retrieving and syncing email content across multiple devices.

Neither POP3 nor IMAP can send emails. They operate on the receiving end of the communication process.

Summary Table: Email Protocols and Their Functions

Protocol	Full Name	Primary Use	Port(s)	Sends Email?	Retrieves Email?
SMTP	Simple Mail Transfer Protocol	Sending emails	25, 587, 465	✅ Yes	❌ No
MAPI	Messaging Application Programming Interface	Sending/Receiving (MS-based)	N/A (API-based)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
POP3	Post Office Protocol v3	Retrieving emails	110, 995	❌ No	✅ Yes
IMAP	Internet Message Access Protocol	Retrieving/syncing emails	143, 993	❌ No	✅ Yes

Real-World Scenario: Choosing Between SMTP and MAPI

Let’s imagine you're a network admin configuring a business email setup. If you are using Microsoft Outlook with Exchange Server, you'll likely rely on MAPI for rich feature support.

But, if you’re configuring a general-purpose mail client, or setting up mail server-to-server communication, SMTP is the go-to protocol.

Email Flow: Sending and Receiving Overview

Here’s how a complete email journey works, broken into sending and receiving stages:

Email Sent from Client:

Uses SMTP to deliver the email to the sender’s mail server.
The server may forward the email to the recipient’s mail server, again using SMTP.

Email Retrieved by Recipient:

Uses IMAP or POP3 to download the email from the server to the user's client.

In Microsoft Ecosystems:

Uses MAPI for both sending and receiving, offering a comprehensive messaging platform.

Why It Matters for Your Certification Exam

If you're preparing for exams like CompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA, or Microsoft 365 certifications, understanding the roles of different email protocols is crucial. This topic is commonly featured in multiple-choice formats exactly like the ones shown above.

Questions phrased as "Which two protocols may devices use in the application process that sends email? (Choose two.)" test your ability to distinguish between sending and retrieving protocols, which is a foundational networking skill.

Conclusion: Mastering Email Protocols for Exam Success

In conclusion, the two protocols used in the application process to send emails are:

SMTP – the standard for sending email messages.
MAPI – particularly for Microsoft Outlook/Exchange environments.

Avoid confusing these with IMAP and POP3, which are only used for retrieving emails.

At DumpsQueen Official, our mission is to simplify complex IT concepts to help you pass your certification exams with confidence. Mastering topics like email protocols will not only help you answer exam questions correctly but also excel in real-world IT tasks.