Terms below appear throughout guides on automated email triage. Each definition is one or two sentences; follow the links in the sidebar for the full guides.
Core terms#
Automated email triage
Automated triage uses rules and AI classification to sort incoming mail by urgency and required action before a person sees it.
SPF
A DNS record listing servers authorized to send for a domain. Checked against the connecting IP.
DKIM
A cryptographic signature on each message, verified with a public key in DNS.
DMARC
A policy record telling receivers what to do when SPF and DKIM fail alignment, plus reporting.
Alignment
Agreement between the visible From domain and the domain that passed SPF or DKIM.
Sender reputation
A provider's running assessment of a domain or IP based on complaints, bounces, engagement, and authentication.
Inbox placement
Share of accepted mail that lands in the inbox rather than spam.
Spam trap
An address that never opted in, used to catch senders with poor list practices.
BIMI
A DNS record pointing to a brand logo displayed next to authenticated mail; requires DMARC enforcement.
Feedback loop
A provider program that reports recipient spam complaints back to the sender.
Frequently asked questions#
How does AI triage decide what is important?
Signals include sender relationship, whether you are in To or CC, question marks and deadlines in the body, and thread history.