JavaMail API

 

The JavaMail APIs provide a platform and protocol-independent framework for building Java-based mail client applications. WAS supports the JavaMail API, V1.3, and the JavaBeans Activation Framework (JAF) V1.0. In WebSphere Application Server, the JavaMail API is supported in all Web application components, namely:

• Servlets

• JavaServer Pages files

• Enterprise beans

• Application clients

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. The API and related specifications are repackaged from Sun-licensed materials into the following file groupings:

• j2ee.jar - Contains the JavaMail API and the JAF

• mail-impl.jar - Contains the implementation of the JavaMail API

• activation-impl.jar - Contains the implementation of the JAF