Which of the following best describes email?

The correct answer describes email as a digital message sent over the internet. Email, short for electronic mail, allows users to compose, send, receive, and store messages in a digital format. It operates via online servers and can include attachments, such as files and images, making it a powerful tool for personal and business communication.

This definition emphasizes the fundamental characteristics of email, highlighting its reliance on internet technology and its function as a means of message transmission. Unlike instant messaging, which typically involves real-time conversation, email is asynchronous, allowing users to send messages that can be read and responded to at a later time. Email also differs from long-distance telephone communication, which involves voice rather than written messages, and social media platforms, which often focus on social networking and sharing content rather than private messaging. Therefore, describing email as a digital message sent over the internet captures its essence as a widely used communication tool.