Computer Tricks and Secrets

Short answer: to check if an email address is valid, first confirm the format is correct, then use an email verification tool to check whether the domain and mailbox actually exist, without sending anything. You can never be 100% certain an address is live without emailing it, but these steps get you close. Here is how, and how to avoid looking like a spammer. Step 1: Check the format A valid email has the shape name@domain.tld with no spaces or illegal characters. Obvious typos (missing @, "gmial.com", trailing dots) fail here. This catches simple mistakes instantly, but a well-formed address can still be fake, so keep going. Step 2: Verify the domain exists The part after the @ must be a real domain with mail servers (MX records). If the domain does not exist or has no mail server, the address cannot receive email. Email verifier tools check this automatically. Step 3: Use an email verification tool Free and freemium tools like Hunter's Email Verifier and si...