Using SMTP

What is SMTP?

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for sending emails across the Internet. It is a reliable and widely-used method for email transmission, ensuring that emails are correctly routed and delivered to recipients. SMTP works by connecting to an email server and sending the email data, including the message content, sender, recipient, and any attachments.

SMTP is supported by virtually all email clients and services, making it a versatile and essential protocol for sending emails from web applications, such as those built with ShipWithDjango.

Configuring SMTP in ShipWithDjango

ShipWithDjango uses SMTP by default for sending emails. To configure SMTP as your email provider, follow these steps:

Step 1: Set the Email Provider to SMTP

Ensure that the EMAIL_PROVIDER variable is set to 'smtp'. This tells ShipWithDjango to use the SMTP protocol for sending emails.

Step 2: Configure the Required Variables

You will need to set the following environment variables to correctly configure the SMTP settings:

• EMAIL_HOST: The address of the SMTP server you are using to send emails. This could be a service like Gmail, Outlook, or a dedicated SMTP server provided by your hosting provider.

• EMAIL_PORT: The port number used by the SMTP server. Common ports are 587 for TLS, 465 for SSL, and 25 for non-encrypted connections.

• EMAIL_HOST_USER_NAME: The name that will appear in the "From" field of outgoing emails. This can be your application name, your company name, or another identifier.

• EMAIL_HOST_USER: The username used to authenticate with the SMTP server. This is usually the email address you are sending emails from.

• EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD: The password for the SMTP server. This is required for authenticating the user account.

• EMAIL_USE_TLS: Set this to True to use TLS (Transport Layer Security) for secure email transmission. TLS is recommended for protecting the integrity and privacy of your emails.

Example Configuration

EMAIL_PROVIDER=smtp
EMAIL_HOST=smtp.yourprovider.com
EMAIL_PORT=587
EMAIL_HOST_USER_NAME="Your Company Name"
EMAIL_HOST_USER=[e-mail]
EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD=your_password_here
EMAIL_USE_TLS=True

Summary

SMTP is a reliable and standard protocol for sending emails, and ShipWithDjango supports it out of the box. By configuring the appropriate environment variables, you can easily set up SMTP to handle your application's email needs. Whether you're sending transactional emails, notifications, or newsletters, SMTP provides a robust foundation for email delivery.

For most applications, using SMTP is straightforward and secure, especially when combined with TLS to protect your email transmissions.