How to interpret the results of the Validation service?
Each address that is verified may result in “deliverable”, “undeliverable”, “risky” or “unknown”. Below is the detail of their meanings:
Deliverable: The mailbox server has confirmed that the mailbox exists. In addition, an additional analysis has been developed that determined that it is safe to send to this address, with a 95% Guarantee of Distribution. It is also necessary to clarify that this does not guarantee that the box could be a SPAM TRAP.
Undeliverable: indicates that the email address does not exist or is syntactically incorrect (so it would not exist).
Risky: This means that the mailbox server confirms that the mailbox exists, but other factors indicate that the mailbox may result in a bounce or has a low value.
Unknown: this message will be returned when it has not managed to get a response from the mail server. This can happen if the mail server is too slow or not available at the moment. In some cases, retrying the request after 5 minutes will return a valid response.
or invalid.
In addition to the verification result, the reason for it will also be detailed. This includes:
“invalid_email”, “invalid_domain”, “rejected_email”, “accepted_email”, “low_quality”,
“low_deliverability”, “no_connect”, “tomeout”, “invalid_smtp”, “unavailable_smtp”, and “unexpected_error”.
Below are the descriptions of each of these possible responses:
Invalid Email - The address in question does not have a valid email syntax.
Invalid Domain: the email domain does not exist.
Rejected Email: the email address was rejected by the SMTP server, the email does not exist.
Accepted Email: the email address was accepted by the SMTP server.
Low Quality: The email address has quality issues that could make it risky or of low value.
Low Deliverability: Apparently it can be sent to the mailing address, but correct delivery cannot be assured.
No Connect: Failed to connect to the SMTP server.
Timeout: SMTP session timeout expired.
Invalid SMTP - The SMTP server returned an invalid/unexpected response.
Unavailable SMTP: The SMTP server was unable to process the request.
Unexpected Error: An unexpected error occurred.
Some domains accept all email you try to send to them. Typically, these domains are trying to protect their legitimate users by telling the sending mail server to accept mail from a given email address, but then silently discarding the message or sending a bounce message after the fact. In these cases, it is impossible to determine if the email will be correctly delivered to a user's inbox. Sending to an “accept all” domain can increase bounce rates and/or decrease open rates. That is why we recommend caution when sending to these types of domains.
Through this field, suggestions are given that you can send to your users, or use to try to clean up misspelled addresses. The suggestion “did you mean?” will show you an alternative address when a potential erroneous checkbox is identified.
Email addresses that point to domains like trashmail.com are using a dropbox service. These services allow users to generate disposable email accounts (use only once) to receive communications from a service (for example: activation emails) and then they are discarded. It is highly recommended not to use these addresses for your shipments.
Addresses that are using free mail services such as Gmail and Yahoo are identified here. In many cases, it is perfectly acceptable to send mail to these free addresses. However, in some cases, businesses can get better response or open rates when they ship only to non-free addresses.
Role email addresses are typically associated with a role (postmaster, support, sales, etc.), rather than a person. In some cases, sending to these types of addresses can lead to a drop in open rates and they are not recommended for email marketing sends.
See also our article Rest API Verfy Email Guide
Terminology
Result: Deliverable, Undeliverable, Risky, & Unknown
Deliverable: The mailbox server has confirmed that the mailbox exists. In addition, an additional analysis has been developed that determined that it is safe to send to this address, with a 95% Guarantee of Distribution. It is also necessary to clarify that this does not guarantee that the box could be a SPAM TRAP.
Undeliverable: indicates that the email address does not exist or is syntactically incorrect (so it would not exist).
Risky: This means that the mailbox server confirms that the mailbox exists, but other factors indicate that the mailbox may result in a bounce or has a low value.
Unknown: this message will be returned when it has not managed to get a response from the mail server. This can happen if the mail server is too slow or not available at the moment. In some cases, retrying the request after 5 minutes will return a valid response.
or invalid.
Result Detail
In addition to the verification result, the reason for it will also be detailed. This includes:
“invalid_email”, “invalid_domain”, “rejected_email”, “accepted_email”, “low_quality”,
“low_deliverability”, “no_connect”, “tomeout”, “invalid_smtp”, “unavailable_smtp”, and “unexpected_error”.
Below are the descriptions of each of these possible responses:
Invalid Email - The address in question does not have a valid email syntax.
Invalid Domain: the email domain does not exist.
Rejected Email: the email address was rejected by the SMTP server, the email does not exist.
Accepted Email: the email address was accepted by the SMTP server.
Low Quality: The email address has quality issues that could make it risky or of low value.
Low Deliverability: Apparently it can be sent to the mailing address, but correct delivery cannot be assured.
No Connect: Failed to connect to the SMTP server.
Timeout: SMTP session timeout expired.
Invalid SMTP - The SMTP server returned an invalid/unexpected response.
Unavailable SMTP: The SMTP server was unable to process the request.
Unexpected Error: An unexpected error occurred.
Accept All (accept all)
Some domains accept all email you try to send to them. Typically, these domains are trying to protect their legitimate users by telling the sending mail server to accept mail from a given email address, but then silently discarding the message or sending a bounce message after the fact. In these cases, it is impossible to determine if the email will be correctly delivered to a user's inbox. Sending to an “accept all” domain can increase bounce rates and/or decrease open rates. That is why we recommend caution when sending to these types of domains.
Meant? (did you mean?)
Through this field, suggestions are given that you can send to your users, or use to try to clean up misspelled addresses. The suggestion “did you mean?” will show you an alternative address when a potential erroneous checkbox is identified.
Disposable Box (disposable email address)
Email addresses that point to domains like trashmail.com are using a dropbox service. These services allow users to generate disposable email accounts (use only once) to receive communications from a service (for example: activation emails) and then they are discarded. It is highly recommended not to use these addresses for your shipments.
Free Email Addresses
Addresses that are using free mail services such as Gmail and Yahoo are identified here. In many cases, it is perfectly acceptable to send mail to these free addresses. However, in some cases, businesses can get better response or open rates when they ship only to non-free addresses.
Role Email Address
Role email addresses are typically associated with a role (postmaster, support, sales, etc.), rather than a person. In some cases, sending to these types of addresses can lead to a drop in open rates and they are not recommended for email marketing sends.
See also our article Rest API Verfy Email Guide
Updated on: 05/31/2023
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