Difference Between Outbox and Sent

Outbox vs Sent: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the difference Between Outbox and Sent folder to manage your inbox and overall email correspondence. Both terms look similar but they serve for different purposes and functionalities. In this article, we will discuss difference between the Outbox and Sent folders, their purpose and function.

Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between the Outbox and Sent folders:

Feature	Outbox	Sent
Purpose	Temporary holding area for messages that have been composed and addressed but not yet sent	Permanent storage location for messages that have been successfully delivered
Location	Located in the Mail folder	Located in the Mail folder
Contents	Contains messages that have been composed but not yet sent	Contains messages that have been successfully delivered
Status	Messages in the Outbox are “pending.” Messages in the Sent folder are “sent.”	Messages in the Sent folder are “delivered.”

Outbox

The Outbox folder can be seen as a temporary holding area for your composed emails. It allows you to review and make any necessary changes or cancellations before the messages are delivered. Once you click “Send,” the email is queue to be sent. Your email client will then attempt to send the email to the recipient(s). If the email is successfully send, it will be move from the Outbox to the Sent folder. This transitional phase typically lasts for a few seconds. However, in some instances, emails may remain in the Outbox for longer periods, including when:

Connectivity issues: You lack a proper internet connection, leading to delays in sending the message.
Large attachments: Your email includes an exceptionally large file, extending the time it takes to send.
Scheduled emails: You’ve schedule an email to be send at a later time or date.

Sent Folder

Once an email has been successfully sent to its recipient(s), it moves from the Outbox to the Sent folder. This is a storage space exclusively reserve for messages that your email client has confirmed were successfully deliver. Its main purpose of keeping a record of all the emails you have sent. It typically provides sorting options, such as filtering by date, recipient, or subject, to help youfind specific emails quickly.

Having a Sent folder is essential for various reasons, including:

Record-keeping: It serves as a log of all the emails you have sent, allowing you to reference or review previous communications.
Follow-ups: You can refer back to Sent messages to follow up on outstanding issues or regain vital context for ongoing discussions.
Resending: If a recipient loses an email or wants a copy sent to another address, you can quickly locate and resend the message without needing to rebuild it from scratch.