A junk folder is a virtual area for storing unwanted and often unsolicited email in an application or email system. Programs in e-mail usually include customization options to automatically move junk messages to a junk mail folder, but often this mail must be manually moved to the folder once the inbox is reached. When an email from an unwanted source arrives, there is usually a blocklist or spam filter to log the sender’s email address or extension, subject field, or content and keywords send similar messages directly to the Junk Mail folder. Items in this folder can be manually deleted or set in a schedule for automatic deletion after a specified period, although it is generally a good idea to check junk mail for messages that may have been filtered by the email program. .
What does Junk Folder have in it?
Most e-mail programs include a junk e-mail folder in the standard e-mail folder directory. Some companies dedicate staff to creating marketing emails that bypass filters and reach an inbox without being relegated to the junk folder. Bypassing spam and anti-spam filters can be a marketing specialty as well as a computer programming line of defense during development and debugging.
Many virtual messages go directly to the junk folder due to the nature of the message body content. A program’s settings can filter out any content that contains profanity, sexually explicit language, and marketing euphemisms designed to evade the filtering process. Subject lines with the same content types can also be demoted from the inbox to a junk folder. Other filters can be configured to return emails received from locations or servers identified as creators or generators of spam.
Although email programs are usually sophisticated enough to handle the majority of spam sent to an inbox, they sometimes send the desired email to a junk folder in the process. When deleting the contents of a spam folder, it is generally recommended that the user review addresses and subject lines to ensure that no non-spam mail is deleted. Typically, email apps also have a pop-up prompt before deleting to ask users if they are sure to delete selected emails or folder contents.
Read Also: Junk Folder: How Does It Work
