# From

> [HTML Version](from_emailx2.htm)

The **From:** header field differs from the _from _parameter in nearly the same way as the **To:** header differs from the _to _parameter. The _from _parameter is a separate command to the SMTP server, and is used to identify the sender to the SMTP server, not necessarily to the recipient of the message. Typically, however, they are the same, with the possible addition of an informal text version of the sender’s name in the **From:** header, such as Big Brother <bigbro@us.gov> instead of just bigbro@us.gov. SMTP servers will often insist that the _from _parameter specify a valid address, since it needs this if it has to return the message because it was undeliverable. They may or may not put restrictions on the **From:** header, but apparently this is not too common or we would not be deluged with junk-email with no usable **From:** address. Note that since your **From:** header is likely to be the same for all messages, you may want to put it in the configuration file and not bother with it in each message.