The action of setting up rules within an email system to automatically sort, categorize, or manage incoming messages is a fundamental aspect of email management. For example, a user might establish a rule that automatically moves all messages from a specific sender into a designated folder, or a rule that flags messages containing certain keywords as high priority. This enables users to maintain an organized and efficient inbox.
The implementation of these rules provides several advantages, including enhanced productivity by reducing manual message sorting, improved organization by automatically categorizing correspondence, and heightened security by filtering out potentially harmful or unwanted emails. Historically, this functionality emerged as email usage increased, becoming essential to handle growing volumes of electronic communication effectively.