Glossary · Message format

List headers

The List- header fields of RFC 2369 (List-Help, List-Unsubscribe, List-Subscribe, List-Post, List-Owner, List-Archive) that describe how to use a mailing list.

What it means

RFC 2369 lets a list publish its commands in the header as URLs: where to get help, how to subscribe or unsubscribe, where to post, who runs it and where its archive is. Each field holds URLs in angle brackets, usually mailto: or https:, listed in order of preference. List-Id (RFC 2919) and List-Unsubscribe-Post (RFC 8058) later joined the same family.

Their presence marks a message as list mail: RFC 3834 allows automatic responders to ignore any message carrying a List- field.

Example

List-Help: <mailto:list-help@example.com>
List-Post: <mailto:discuss@example.com>
List-Archive: <https://example.com/archive/discuss>

Sources

What this definition rests on. The wording is ours; the facts are theirs.

RFC 2369: The Use of URLs as Meta-Syntax for Core Mail List Commands and their Transport through Message Header Fieldsrfc-editor.org
RFC 3834, section 2: When (not) to send automatic responsesrfc-editor.org

All 432 terms in the glossary The wiki: blocklists and bounce codes

What it means

Example

Related terms

Sources

A heartbeat for your email.