What is a queue manager?

A queue manager handles messages waiting for delivery within an **MTA**. It organizes outbound email into queues, prioritizes based on age and urgency, manages retry schedules, and balances load across available connections.

Queue functions include: holding messages during temporary failures, organizing by destination for efficient batching, enforcing per-recipient throttling, tracking delivery attempts, and aging out undeliverable messages.

Queue health matters for delivery. Backlogged queues mean delays; poorly configured queues cause retries to bunch up overwhelming receivers. Monitoring queue depth, age distribution, and processing rate helps identify infrastructure problems before they affect delivery.

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