How to check if an email address is real or valid using PHP

Question

You should check with SMTP.

That means you have to connect to that email’s SMTP server.

After connecting to the SMTP server you should send these commands:

HELO somehostname.com
MAIL FROM: <no-reply@gmail.com>
RCPT TO: <emailtovalidate@domain.com>

If you get “<emailtovalidate@domain.com> Relay access denied” that means this email is Invalid.

There is a simple PHP class. You can use it:

http://www.phpclasses.org/package/6650-PHP-Check-if-an-e-mail-is-valid-using-SMTP.html