> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.mailtrap.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.mailtrap.io/inbound-email/overview.md).

# Overview

Inbound Email lets you receive incoming emails, read them via API, and get webhook notifications when new messages arrive. Mailtrap accepts messages on your behalf, parses them into structured JSON.

Inbound email is most commonly used for:

* **Internal system automations** – Receive and process/categorize emails (support tickets, invoices, notifications) without running a mail server
* **Admin panels** – Display incoming emails in your own web app or admin panel
* **AI agents** – Give your  AI agent its own email address to receive and process messages
* **Agent frameworks** – You're building with OpenClaw, LangChain, CrewAI, or other agent frameworks and need email as a tool via MCP

{% embed url="<https://docs.mailtrap.io/developers/inbound/>" %}
Link to official API documentation
{% endembed %}

{% hint style="info" %}
The UI, as well as support for custom receiving domains, is coming soon.
{% endhint %}

### How it works

First, you need to create an inbox via the API and get an address like **<app1@inbound-mailtrap.io>** (for Mailtrap-hosted inbound inboxes). From there you have two options: configure a webhook to get notified on every new message, or poll the Messages API on your own schedule. Or both.

{% content-ref url="/pages/yiNDG25FvjgIQf7d2rNR" %}
[Receiving Emails](/inbound-email/receiving-emails.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/dyFkrEzKFgqJnhIDMz6u" %}
[Webhooks](/inbound-email/webhooks.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.mailtrap.io/inbound-email/overview.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.