Mailto Syntax Cheat Sheet
Quick reference for mailto link syntax, parameters, encoding rules, and examples. Everything you need in one place.
Quick Start
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Hello&body=Hi%20there Basic structure: mailto: + email + ? for first parameter + & for additional parameters
Mailto Parameters Reference
| Parameter | Description | Example | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Email address(es) of recipient(s) | mailto:[email protected] | ✅ Yes |
| cc | Carbon copy recipients | [email protected] | ❌ No |
| bcc | Blind carbon copy recipients | [email protected] | ❌ No |
| subject | Email subject line | ?subject=Hello%20World | ❌ No |
| body | Email body text | &body=Hi%20there | ❌ No |
| reply-to | Reply-to address | [email protected] | ❌ No |
URL Encoding Reference
| Character | Encoded | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Space | %20 | Between words |
| New Line | %0A | Line breaks in body |
| Carriage Return + Line Feed | %0D%0A | Windows-style line breaks |
| & | %26 | Ampersand (if literal) |
| ? | %3F | Question mark (if literal) |
| = | %3D | Equals sign (if literal) |
| # | %23 | Hash/pound sign |
| % | %25 | Percent sign |
| , | %2C | Comma (if needed) |
| + | %2B | Plus sign |
Common Patterns & Examples
Multiple Recipients
Separate multiple email addresses with commas (no spaces)
With Subject and Body
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Hello&body=Hi%20there Use & to chain additional parameters
Body with Line Breaks
mailto:[email protected]?body=Line%201%0ALine%202%0ALine%203 Use %0A for line breaks
Complete Example (All Parameters)
mailto:[email protected][email protected][email protected]&subject=Subject%20Here&body=Body%20text%0AWith%20line%20breaks Example showing all common parameters
Ready-to-Use Templates
Business Inquiry
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Business%20Inquiry&body=Hello%2C%0A%0AI%20am%20interested%20in%20your%20services.%0A%0ABest%20regards Professional inquiry template
Try in Generator →Job Application
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Job%20Application&body=Dear%20Hiring%20Manager%2C%0A%0AI%20am%20writing%20to%20apply%20for%20the%20position%20of... Formal job application template
Try in Generator →Customer Support
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Support%20Request&body=Hello%2C%0A%0AI%20need%20help%20with... Customer support template
Try in Generator →Meeting Request
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Meeting%20Request&body=Hi%2C%0A%0AI%20would%20like%20to%20schedule%20a%20meeting%20to%20discuss... Meeting scheduling template
Try in Generator →Common Pitfalls to Avoid
❌ Wrong: Forgetting to URL-encode spaces and special characters
✅ Correct: Always use encodeURIComponent() or our generator
❌ Wrong: Using ? instead of & for additional parameters
✅ Correct: Use ? only for the first parameter, & for the rest
❌ Wrong: Using actual line breaks (\n) in body text
✅ Correct: Use %0A for line breaks
❌ Wrong: Creating URLs longer than 2,000 characters
✅ Correct: Keep URLs concise (≤ 2,000 chars) for maximum compatibility
❌ Wrong: Using To: or Cc: in the email address
✅ Correct: Put recipients directly after mailto:, use cc= parameter for CC
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix multiple recipients with CC and BCC?
Yes! You can have multiple recipients in To, CC, and BCC fields simultaneously. Example: mailto:[email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected]
Are line breaks consistent across all email clients?
Mostly, but some clients handle %0A and %0D%0A differently. Use %0A for best compatibility.
Can I attach files using mailto links?
No, mailto links don't support file attachments. You'll need to use a contact form or ask users to attach files manually after the email client opens.
How do I include special characters like "+" or "&" in the email body?
URL-encode them: + becomes %2B, & becomes %26. Always use proper encoding.
What if the browser doesn't open my email client?
This usually means the user hasn't configured a default email client. Always provide a fallback: display the email address as plain text so users can copy it.
Can I include HTML formatting in the body?
No, mailto links only support plain text. HTML tags will be displayed as literal text. If you need formatting, use a contact form instead.
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