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  The Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) defines how computers must communicate when sending or receiving electronic mail (Email).

  SMTP and its status codes are defined in RFC821.


  Mailer errors usually have a status code like 451 or 501. The general format is 2xx, 4xx or 5xx.
  • 2xx - success/info/status
  • 4xx - temporary error - the condition may go away
  • 5xx - permanent error - the message can't be received
There is also an extended format like 5.x.x, which gives more detailed info - see RFC1893, but we will only discuss the short codes here.

  SMTP short status codes
  • 211 System status, or system help reply
  • 214 Help message [Information on how to use the receiver or the meaning of a particular non-standard command; this reply is useful only to the human user].
  • 220 <;domain> Service ready
  • 221 <domain> Service closing transmission channel
  • 250 Requested mail action okay, completed
  • 251 User not local; will forward to <forward-path>


  • 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF>


  • 421 <domain> Service not available, closing transmission channel [This may be a reply to any command if the service knows it must shut down].
  • 450 Requested mail action not taken: mailbox unavailable [E.g. mailbox busy].
  • 451 Requested action aborted: error in processing
  • 452 Requested action not taken: insufficient system storage


  • 500 Syntax error, command unrecognized [This may include errors such as command line too long].
  • 501 Syntax error in parameters or arguments
  • 502 Command not implemented
  • 503 Bad sequence of commands
  • 504 Command parameter not implemented
  • 550 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable [E.g. mailbox not found, no access].
  • 551 User not local; please try <forward-path>
  • 552 Requested mail action aborted: exceeded storage allocation
  • 553 Requested action not taken: mailbox name not allowed [E.g. mailbox syntax incorrect].
  • 554 Transaction failed

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