Difference Between Cc and Bcc

The main difference between Cc and Bcc is that Cc (or Carbon copy) allows a recipient to know to whom a copy of an email has been sent while Bcc (Blind carbon copy) prevents the recipient from getting to know to whom a copy of an email has been sent.

Email is a method to send digital messages through the internet. Email service providers such as Gmail allows the exchange of emails. It is possible to send an email to many receivers across the world within few seconds. The user can send text, images, and video via email. The email is divided into two sections as header and body. The header includes receiver details and subject while the message is in the body section. The “To” section in the email indicates the receiver’s address. Furthermore, there are two fields called Cc and Bcc that allow users to send emails to multiple receipts at once.  

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Cc
     – Definition, Usage
2. What is Bcc
     – Definition, Usage
3. Difference Between Cc and Bcc
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Cc, Bcc, Email, Gmail

What is Cc

Cc stands for Carbon Copy. When adding someone to the cc field, all receipts can see the person the user designated as a cc recipient. They can see the email addresses of the other people who receive a copy of the mail.

Assume that the user goes to Gmail and composes an email. He adds an email address (a1) in the “To” section and adds another two email addresses (b1, c1) in the Cc section. When opening the b1 Gmail account, he can see that email has been sent to the other receipt c1 as well.

What is Bcc

Bcc is similar to cc but, other receipts cannot see to whom the copy of the message has been sent. Assume that the user goes to Gmail and compose an email. He adds an email address (a1) in the “To” section and adds another two email addresses (b1, c1) in the Bcc section. When opening the b1 account, he can see that email has been sent to him. He cannot see the c1 email address.

Difference Between Cc and Bcc

Definition

Cc is a field in Gmail that makes the recipients see the other receipts who receive the email. Bcc is a field in Gmail that makes the recipients invisible to other recipients of the email.

Stands for

Cc stands for carbon copy while Bcc stands for blind carbon copy.

Usage

Cc field allows a recipient to know to whom a copy of an email has been sent. Bb field prevents the recipient from getting to know to whom a copy of an email has been sent.

Conclusion

Cc and Bcc help to send an email to multiple recipients. The main difference between cc and bcc is that Cc allows a recipient to know to whom a copy of an email has been sent while bcc prevents the recipient from getting to know to whom a copy of an email has been sent. The user can add multiple email address to Cc or Bcc field separated by a comma.

Reference:

1. CC and BCC Detail Explanation with Practical, Unbound Technology, 4 Oct. 2017, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Email Subject Lines” by Joe The Goat Farmer (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr