Differences Between Email Body and Header

An email message consists of two parts: the body and the header. Knowing the difference between the email body and the header will help you better manage both.

What is the Difference Between an Email Header and an Email Body?

When you think of traditional mail, the two parts are easy to identify. With paper mail, there is the envelope with the address, stamp and postal information, and the letter or other documentation inside.

It is similar with email. There are also two distinct parts that make up a single email message. There is the header, which contains control information and other data, and the message body, which contains the sender's text, as well as attachments and other components.

The Email Header Area

The header part of an email message acts like the envelope of a typewritten letter. This section contains information about the sender, the recipient, and the path the email took to reach the recipient's inbox. It also includes various required authentication details. The header always comes before the body of an email.

Only part of the header is displayed in an email message. The rest of the header is hidden. Header parts that are typically displayed include the date, sender and recipient information, and the subject. Items such as server path, return path, source IP address, or spam information are not displayed in the message. View the full email header to better understand how an email arrived in your inbox.

The Body Section of the Email

The body of an email message is essentially the letter inside the envelope. Think about how you read a letter you receive in the mail. You open the envelope and unfold the paper to reveal the contents of the message.

Once a recipient opens an email message, the body of the email is displayed in its entirety. In addition to the header, the body is a free-form box where you can put as much text as you like and add supporting links, images, or attachments (although attachments are usually displayed separately).

When you send an email message, you're not limited to the amount of text you can use. However, email servers have limitations on the size of messages they accept. Common maximum sizes for the email body, including attachments, are 10MB to 25MB.