mail

Also known as post

thumb|upright=1.3|A Mail carrier|postman collecting mail for delivery in [[Hong Kong, 2008]]

AI overview

Mail is the system of collecting and delivering written messages and packages from senders to recipients, typically handled by postal workers like the mail carrier shown here. It matters because it enables people to communicate and send physical items across distances, serving as a fundamental infrastructure for personal correspondence, business transactions, and official documents.

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Wikidata facts

Image: Postnord bil i Skogås.jpg

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International Standard Industrial Classification code Rev.4: 5310
Commons category: Post
P8168: Slovak Republic

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~41 min read

Article

32 sections

Contents

Etymology
History
Iran
India
Rome
Vietnam
China
Mongol Empire
Japan
Korea
Other systems
Thurn und Taxis
Postal reforms
Modern transport and technology
Modern mail
Organization
Payment {{anchor |postage}}
Privacy and censorship
Rise of electronic correspondence
Collecting
Deregulation
Types
Letters
First-Class
Repositionable notes
Postal cards and postcards
Other mail services
Business model
See also
Notes
Further reading
External links

thumb|upright=1.3|A Mail carrier|postman collecting mail for delivery in [[Hong Kong, 2008]]

The mail or post is a system for physically transporting postcards, letters, and parcels. A postal service can be private or public, though many governments place restrictions on private systems. Since the mid-19th century, national postal systems have generally been established as a government monopoly, with a fee on the article prepaid. Proof of payment is usually in the form of an adhesive postage stamp, but a postage meter is also used for bulk mailing.