How do I verify someone's email address?

Answer 1

If you are doing this on a website, start by checking the email address for an at (@) symbol and a dot (.) after the at symbol. If you really want you can check the ending, but there are several (all of the country codes included). List is included.

After that, if you still want verification, have a script send an email to the email address they gave you and have them reply to the email you sent them.

Answer 2

I'm assuming you are doing this for a registration form of some type. Well when I'm trying to verify an address I usually generate a random string of characters and email it to the user. That string of characters is dumped into a database corresponding to their email. When they receive the email they click on a link with the random string of characters included in the url and are sent back to the website they want to register at. If the string matches what is in the database the email is confirmed.

Answer 3

If you are asking if the e-mail address exists it's pretty simple. Just e-mail the address. If the adress exists you'll either get a reply from the person or nothing will happen.

BUT if the e-mail adress doesn't exist you will get an e-mail telling you that the e-mail doesn't exist.

Now to check if someone's email address actually belongs to them is a bit tougher because anyone can create fake names to "disguise" their identity.