Email Plus Addressing Explained
Plus addressing adds a tag to an email local part, such as alex+receipts@example.com. Whether it delivers to alex’s mailbox depends on the mail provider’s subaddressing rules.
Examples at a glance
alex+receipts@example.com
Mailbox and provider
- Mailbox name
alexThe base local-part example.
- Mail domain
example.comThe receiving mail system.
Organize by tag
- Receipts
alex+receipts@example.comA possible filter label on a supporting provider.
- Travel
alex+travel@example.comAnother tag for the same base mailbox if supported.
A practical use
On supporting systems, different tags can help filter incoming mail or identify the address you supplied to a service. A tag is visible to anyone receiving the full address; it is not a separate password or private identity.
Support varies
Gmail documents plus-tag variations. Other providers can use different separators or configurations, and some website forms reject otherwise supported tags. Verify the behavior with your own provider.
Do not remove plus tags universally
The local part belongs to the receiving mail system. Stripping everything after + can change the intended mailbox on a system that does not use that convention.