PhpHow-ToBeginner · 3 min read

How to Send Email in PHP: Simple Guide with Examples

To send an email in PHP, use the mail() function with parameters for recipient, subject, message, and optional headers. This function sends the email through the server's mail system with a simple call like mail('to@example.com', 'Subject', 'Message').

📐

Syntax

The mail() function in PHP sends an email with the following parameters:

to: The recipient's email address.
subject: The email subject line.
message: The body of the email.
headers (optional): Additional headers like From, Cc, Bcc.
parameters (optional): Additional command line parameters for the mail program.

php

bool mail(string $to, string $subject, string $message, string $headers = null, string $parameters = null)

💻

Example

This example shows how to send a simple email with a subject and message. It also sets the From header to specify the sender's email address.

php

<?php
$to = 'friend@example.com';
$subject = 'Hello from PHP';
$message = "Hi there,\nThis is a test email sent using PHP.";
$headers = 'From: sender@example.com' . "\r\n" .
           'Reply-To: sender@example.com' . "\r\n" .
           'X-Mailer: PHP/' . phpversion();

if (mail($to, $subject, $message, $headers)) {
    echo 'Email sent successfully.';
} else {
    echo 'Email sending failed.';
}
?>

Output

Email sent successfully.

⚠️

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when sending email in PHP include:

Not setting the From header, which can cause the email to be rejected or marked as spam.
Incorrect line breaks in headers; always use \r\n for new lines.
Assuming mail() works on all servers; some servers require proper mail server setup.
Not validating email addresses before sending.

Here is a wrong and right way to set headers:

php

<?php
// Wrong: Missing From header
mail('friend@example.com', 'Subject', 'Message');

// Right: With From header
$headers = 'From: sender@example.com' . "\r\n";
mail('friend@example.com', 'Subject', 'Message', $headers);
?>

📊

Quick Reference

Tips for sending email in PHP:

Always include a From header to avoid spam filters.
Use \r\n for line breaks in headers.
Test email sending on your server environment.
Consider using libraries like PHPMailer for advanced features.

✅

Key Takeaways

Use PHP's mail() function with recipient, subject, message, and headers to send email.

Always set the From header to specify the sender and avoid spam issues.

Use \r\n for line breaks in email headers to ensure proper formatting.

Test email sending on your server as mail() depends on server configuration.

For complex needs, use dedicated libraries like PHPMailer instead of mail().