The term
Webmail is used to describe two things. One use of the word is to describe a
Webmail client: an
email client implemented as a
web application accessed via a
web browser. This article focuses in this use of the term. The other use of the word is to describe a
Web-based email service: an email service offered through a web site such as
Gmail,
Yahoo! Mail,
Hotmail and
AOL Mail;.
Practically every
webmail provider offers email access using a webmail client, and many of them also offer email access by a desktop
email client using standard email protocols, while many
internet service providers provide a webmail client as part of the email service included in their internet service package. As with any web application, webmail's main advantage over the use of a desktop
email client is the ability to send and receive email anywhere from a
web browser. Its main disadvantage is the need to be connected to the internet while using it. There exist also other software tools to integrate parts of the webmail functionality into the OS
.