04 November 2005

user+label@example.com

For years I have been using sbp2001+label@ or sbprice+label@ to automatically sort email based on who the email address is given to. Many websites, especially tech ones, have no problems with addresses formatted as such. However, I'd have to guess that half of the websites that I have attempted to grace with an actual email address have rejected email addresses of this format. Some of them have come right out and said '+' is an invalid character, and that I should correct my typo. One was even more helpful and just removed the offending character, then asked me to validate the new email address. In a few instances, I've even sent emails explaining this problem and why they should fix it to the webmasters of offending sites. I've also flat out refused to register with a "properly formatted" email address and just left the site on many occassions.

My point is this - how do so many website developers not know about this common convention? Grrr.

5 comments:

cagexxx said...

What I don't understand is how adding a plus and a label after your *full* e-mail name can be considered any sort of real security. I assume mail to sbp2001@ and sbprice@ can get through? Considering the popularity of gmail, I can't believe that spammers or even legit mailers wouldn't strip out pluses and labels to reach you no matter what.

osmodion said...

It's not for any sort of security; it's just for sorting. Anything to sbp2001@ goes through, just like sbp2001+label@ goes through. The only difference is that you can set up a filter to automatically put any email addressed to sbp2001+label into a specific folder instead of the inbox. That's all.

slackwench said...

I've never heard of this convention.

captaincrax0rz said...

Me neither. That's amazing.

farniks said...

Which organization publishes the email specification?