JavaMail API

The JavaMail APIs provide a platform and protocol-independent framework for building Java-based mail client applications.

WebSphere Application Server supports the JavaMail API, V1.2, and the JavaBeans Activation Framework (JAF) V1.0. In WebSphere Application Server, the JavaMail API is supported in all Web application components, namely:

The JavaMail APIs are generic for sending and reading mail. They require service providers, known in WAS as protocol providers, to interact with mail servers that run on pertaining protocols.

For example, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a popular transport protocol for sending mail. JavaMail applications can connect to an SMTP server and send mail through it by using this SMTP protocol provider.

In addition to service providers, the JavaMail API requires the Java Application Framework (JAF) to handle mail content that is not plain text, including Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME), URL pages, and file attachments.

The JavaMail APIs, the JAF, the service providers and the protocols are shipped as part of WAS using the following Sun licensed packages:

  • mail.jar - Contains the JavaMail APIs, and the SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 service providers.

  • activation.jar - Contains the JavaBeans Activation Framework.