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The PHP mail() function can be used to send email from a PHP script. It may be the most simple way to send email.
The minimum mail() parameters are To, Subject, Message, and From. Example:
mail("name@example.com","The Info","Call me for the information.","From: name@example.com");
In the parameters, name@example.com is To, The Info is Subject, Call me for the information. is Message, and From: name@example.com is From.
Because it is so simple, it is likely to be used by spammers. A few hosting companys have disabled mail() to prevent spamming from their servers. Generally, I have found this only on very cheap hosting accounts.
The above is a short how-to for using the PHP mail() function. For comprehensive information, see the PHP mail() documentation page.
Let me add a note about sending HTML email. You can do it (the message should have HTML markup) with a bit more information in the fourth parameter of the mail() function.
Append this to the fourth parameter:
\r\nMIME-Version: 1.0\r\nContent-type: text/html; charset=utf-8
You will end up with this:
mail("name@example.com","The Info","<!doctype html><html><body><p>Call me for the information.</p></body></html>","From: name@example.com\r\nMIME-Version: 1.0\r\nContent-type: text/html; charset=utf-8");
And yes, you can send Cc and Bcc copies, too. The method is by adding information to the fourth parameter.
For a Cc and a Bcc, append this to the fourth parameter:
\r\nCc: name2@example.com\r\nBcc: name3@example.com
With the Cc/Bcc appended and the HTML content information appended, you will end up with this:
mail("name@example.com","The Info","<!doctype html><html><body><p>Call me for the information.</p></body></html>","From: name@example.com\r\nCc: name2@example.com\r\nBcc: name3@example.com\r\nMIME-Version: 1.0\r\nContent-type: text/html; charset=utf-8");
Now you know how easy it is to send email with the PHP mail() function.
(This content first appeared in Possibilities newsletter.)
Will Bontrager
