Catch-all (Mail)
Encyclopedia
In common use, a catchall or catch-all is a general term, or physical dumping group for a variety of similar words or meanings.
In the context of e-mail, a Catch-all usually refers to a mailbox on a domain
that will "catch all" of the emails addressed to the domain that do not exist in the mail server. Configuring a catch-all address can help avoid losing emails due to misspelling. However many email hosts no longer permit catch-alls since many spammers abuse the feature, spamming random email addresses.
For example: if johndoe@example.com is configured to be the catch-all email address on example.com, then any email sent to an undefined @example.com email address will be forwarded to johndoe@example.com instead of being rejected as an Undeliverable message or Unknown User error.
In the context of e-mail, a Catch-all usually refers to a mailbox on a domain
Domain name
A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet. Domain names are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System ....
that will "catch all" of the emails addressed to the domain that do not exist in the mail server. Configuring a catch-all address can help avoid losing emails due to misspelling. However many email hosts no longer permit catch-alls since many spammers abuse the feature, spamming random email addresses.
For example: if johndoe@example.com is configured to be the catch-all email address on example.com, then any email sent to an undefined @example.com email address will be forwarded to johndoe@example.com instead of being rejected as an Undeliverable message or Unknown User error.