Email standards are guidelines that ensure emails are sent, received, and displayed consistently across different platforms and devices. These standards cover various aspects, including formatting, encoding, and security protocols. Common standards include the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) for sending emails and the Post Office Protocol (POP) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) for retrieving them. Adhering to email standards helps improve communication efficiency and reduces the chances of emails being marked as spam. Additionally, standards like DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF) enhance email security by verifying the sender's identity and preventing spoofing.