Basic Usage Of Php Mail Function

[Whatcha]

Php mail() Function

Simple to use function that can provide numerous benifits. In most circumstances running the mail() command directly will send the mail no need to configure any setting or have your own mailserver. For shared hosting chances are php is already set up configured to your email server if this is not the case chances are your host is pretty poor.
Basic Syntax

PHP Code:

bool mail ( string to, string subject, string message [, string additional_headers [, string additional_parameters]] ) 


Breaking it down:
For a simple stright forward email the below will do the job.

PHP Code:

<?php mail("recieveing@email.com","My Email Subject","Hello World"); ?>

Using Varibles

PHP Code:

<?php mail($to,$subject,$message,$headers); ?>

Using the varibles gives much greater scope to the function allowing for greater re-use especially when use in conjuction with for example a contact form.
!Notice the inclusion of the $headers, not included in the first usage i will go into this more later on
Okay by know alot should be self evident about the usage, so i will just run through a few tips and tricks to give you some ideas for usage.
Set within a function:
Reuse the mail function within your own function

PHP Code:

function mail_this($to, $subject,$message){
mail($to,$subject,$message);
} 


Okay so that is not much use to be honest but lets play with it a little. Using the mail_this() we can pre set the some varibles that will be constitent throught out our script.

PHP Code:

function mail_this($message){
$to            ="site_admin@mysite.com";
$subject    ="Web Site Error Notification";
mail($to,$subject,$message);
} 


By calling the function and including the varible ie mail_this(mysql_error()) you are cutting your code and time coding down by not having to repeat the same code over.
Going bit more advanced some times you are going to want to inform that the mail send or did not send, in terms of a contact form

PHP Code:

function mail_this($to, $subject,$message){
if(mail($to,$subject,$message)){
$status    = "Mail Sent Okay";
}else{
$status    ="Mail ERROR";
}
return $status;
} 


Calling the above provides you will a reply to as to the status of the email being sent or not so after some one fils your web contact form in and you process the form just a simple echo statement will provide some indication of the message being sent or not

PHP Code:

<?php echo $mail_this; ?>

Hopefully this will light some fires to get ideas brewing on use of the mail function and how to implement to make life easyier for yourself.
Okay the $headers
Using the above basic commands give a very generic email information. Some times you want to add or beautify the email to give it a more pro-look, using headers will do this and more
Tips: Multiple headers should be separated with a CRLF (\r\n).
email headers are plentyfull but their is just a few that you will probaly set, though for spam reasons it may be best to provide a full set of headers;

PHP Code:

$headers    .="From: [email]site_admin@mysite.com[/email]    \r\n"
$headers    .="Reply-To: [email]site_admin@mysite.com[/email]    \r\n"
$headers    .="Bcc:    [email]site_admin@mysite.com[/email]\r\n"
$headers    .="Cc:site_admin@mysite.com    \r\n" 


Tips: site_admin@mysite.com will print site_admin@mysite.com in the applicable field, adding SiteAdmin <site_admin@mysite.com> will hide the email address and display SiteAdmin to give a more pro-feel to your emails.
But i want to send HTML emails how??
Easy more headers

PHP Code:

$headers  = 'MIME-Version: 1.0' . "\r\n";
$headers .= 'Content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1' . "\r\n" 


But i want to send attachments???
Well to send attachments involves some more headers and goes beyond the basic usage of this tutorial for the moment. Also i would reckon mend if wanting to send attachments, mass emails or just generally complex emails i would push people to view some of the ready made classes for php to assist you.
PEAR::Mail

[weirfire]

I personally use the free open source phpmailer function. It's by far the most superior piece of mailing code I've seen yet that uses the PHP mail function.

http://phpmailer.sourceforge.net/

[Whatcha]

Looks very very intresting class there Very good find especially for complex emails,

Cheers

[weirfire]

You're welcome. It's a fantastic piece of coding. Very neat and does practically everything you'd want from a mailer function. It's completely object oriented so any modifications needing made could be done with an extends class.