3) Interface of the E-mail Window

Interface of the E-mail Window

Structure of an e-mail window (Gmail, yahoo, hotmail):

The structure of an email window consists of various folders, panels and options that are provided when the user is logged into its email account. Out of various email service providers, three are covered here, which are : Gmail, yahoo and hotmail.

1)Gmail:

It is the mail service provided by Google. The structure of gmail window basically comprises of 5 main parts which are highlighted according to their number in the screenshot given below.

1) Left sidebar menu: It is the place where all of our e-mails are grouped. Some basic criteria for classification of emails are:

a) Compose: It is a button which takes the user to window where we can compose or create our mail. This option is used to create and send the email.

b) Inbox: It is a button which takes the user to window where all of received e-mails are placed.

c) Starred: It is a button which takes the user to window where e-mails that are prioritised are placed.

d) Sent mail: It is a button which takes the user to window where e-mails that are sent to others are placed.

e) Drafts: It is a button which takes the user to window where emails that have been composed but not yet sent are placed.

f) More : It contains more categories for email such as important , chat, spam , trash etc.

2)Chat box: It is a platform where we could chat with gmail contacts or hangouts contacts. For this option, the other person should also have an gmail account or hangout application.

3) Tabs: Following are the tabs which displays e-mails according to their types:

1. Primary: This is the place where most general e-mails are placed.
2. Social: This is the place where e-mails we subscribed to are placed.
3. Promotion: This is the place where e-mails belonging to particular organisation promoting themselves are placed.

4)Search Box: It is used for searching some specific email or email-content. This can also be used to search for an email sent by a particular person.

5)Pagination bars: It is used for navigating to next page or previous page as not all emails are displayed on the current screen.

2)Yahoo:

Yahoo mail is another mail service provider from Yahoo company. The look and feel of Yahoo window is similar to Gmail window, which is already explained above. Two major different component of Yahoo window are highlighted and explained below:

1)Tabs: These are the tabs provided to enhance simple interface for user with the help of following options:

a) Archieve: It is used to save e-mail for future reference.

b) Move: It is used to move an e-mail to other folder.

c) Delete: It is used to delete an e-mail.

d) Spam: It is the place where spam or unwanted e-mails are placed.

e) More: For more options.

2) Top menu tabs: These are the navigation menu for other services provided by Yahoo.

3)Hotmail:

Hotmail is another mail service provided from Microsoft. The majority of the components of hotmail interface are very similar to those explained above. So the most important components are highlighted, as shown below:

1) “New” button (Compose email button) : This option is used for composing a fresh e-mail.

2) Search bar: This option is used for searching a particular e-mail using some keywords related to that mail.

3) Left e-mail group side-bar: This bar contains the options for managing the e-mails such as Archive, Draft , Sent Items, Deleted Items , Junk mail (same as spam mail) .