Difference Between Email and Gmail

The main difference between Email and Gmail is that the Email is a method of exchanging digital messages over a communication network such as internet while the Gmail is an email service provider by Google.

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that links electronic devices around the world. One advantage of the internet is that it allows the users to exchange messages. Email and Gmail are two terms related to communication through internet. Email is an electronic message. It can consist of text, graphics, images, and videos. On the other hand, Gmail is an email service provider. It is a platform to send and receive emails. Some other email providers are Yahoo mail, Hotmail, Webmail.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Email
     – Definition, Functionality
2. What is Gmail
     – Definition, Functionality
3. Difference Between Email and Gmail
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Email, Gmail, Internet

What is Email

Email stands for Electronic mail. It is a method to exchange digital messages between people using digital devices such as desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, etc. This message transferring method requires a very short amount of time to send and receive messages. Apart from sending text messages, the user can attach various media files including graphics, videos, and images.

The user can send the message to a recipient who is miles and miles away from him within seconds. Email plays a vital role in modern communication. It supports individual users as well as medium to large enterprise level business organizations.

What is Gmail

Gmail is an email service provider by Google. It is not possible to use email without an email service provider such as Gmail. It is one of the most popular email service providers that help to send and receive emails via the internet. Gmail uses POP or IMAP protocols. These protocols help to retrieve email messages from a server.  

The email provided by Gmail contains two sections: header and body. The header section consists of receiver details and the subject of the email. The message is included in the body section. The user can attach files, insert images and insert links. If the user wants to send large files such as video files, then he can insert those files to Google Drive.

Overall, Gmail is the most dominant email service today. Besides the basic integration with Google Account, it is integrated with other major Google service and products such as Google Drive, Google+, Hangouts, YouTube and many more.

Difference Between Email and Gmail

Definition

Email, which is Electronic mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages between people using electronic devices. Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service developed by Google.

Features

Email transmit digital messages via a communication network such as the internet. Gmail is an email client. It provides features such as virus protection, email reminder, spam filtering and many more.

Usage

Email helps to send and to receive digital messages over the internet. Gmail is a platform to send emails. It is an email service provider or an email client.

Conclusion

Basically, an Email is a digital message. Gmail is a popular email service provider with over billion active users. The difference between Email and Gmail is that Email is a method of exchanging digital messages over a communication network such as internet while Gmail is email service provider by Google.

Reference:

1.“Email.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 June 2018, Available here.
2. “Gmail.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 June 2018, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Email Shiny Icon” By Jessekoeckhoven – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “New Logo Gmail” By Juancameneses11, Google, INC. –  (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia