Email bounce handling is a critical process in email delivery systems that manages what happens when sent emails cannot reach their intended recipients. When an email "bounces," it means the message has been returned to the sender because it failed to reach the destination mailbox.

There are two primary types of bounces:

• Hard Bounces: Permanent delivery failures caused by invalid email addresses, non-existent domains, or blocked servers. These addresses should be removed immediately from your mailing list.
• Soft Bounces: Temporary delivery issues due to full mailboxes, server downtime, or message size limits. Systems typically retry delivery several times before classifying as failures.

Effective bounce handling involves automated monitoring systems that track bounce rates, categorize bounce types, and automatically clean your email lists. Most hosting platforms and email service providers include bounce management tools that:

• Identify problematic email addresses
• Prevent repeated sending to invalid addresses
• Maintain sender reputation with ISPs
• Provide analytics on delivery success rates

Proper bounce management protects your sender reputation, improves email deliverability, and ensures your messages reach engaged subscribers. Regular list cleaning based on bounce data is essential for maintaining effective email communication.