Is “message too large” the sender’s or recipient’s fault?
- "Message too large": Shared responsibility.
- Recipient's constraint:
- Server has maximum message size. Configured by their administrator. Cannot accept messages beyond limit.
- Sender's creation:
- You created the large message. Attachments, images, content. Your choice of what to include.
- Practical reality:
- You must adapt to recipient limits. Cannot force them to accept. Your job to stay within bounds.
- Common limits:
- Gmail, Outlook: 25MB. Many corporate: 10MB or less. Base64 adds ~33% to attachment size.
- Solutions:
- Reduce attachment size. Use file sharing services. Compress before sending. Know your audience's limits.
- Fault does not matter; adaptation does. Send what recipients can receive.
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