e-mail attachment

e-mail attachment

A computer file that rides along with an e-mail message. Attachments are widely used to transfer photos, documents, music and videos from one person to another. Attaching a file is the most common way of sending a file to a recipient. All that is required is the file name and location in the computer and the recipient's e-mail address.

The process is always the same. Users create an e-mail to a recipient, select Attach from a menu and then browse a folder hierarchy to find the files to attach. One drawback to attachments is that the attached file grows about 30% larger than the original. It must be encoded into a text-only format in order to pass through the Internet's mail system (see 7-bit ASCII).

Attachments Can Be Dangerous
Executable programs can be attached as easily as a JPEG photo. If the receiving mail server accepts an executable attachment (many do not), and the e-mail recipient clicks it, the program will be run in the user's computer. This is a common method for implanting a virus or Trojan, and users must be aware of the potential danger (see dangerous extensions). See e-mail and how to transfer a file over the Internet.