The web browser is used as an interface to corresponding script-controlled, dynamic web applications on the email provider's server. To increase convenience, Java applets or Java scripts are usually also used on the user's side.

The main advantage of this approach is that the user only needs a computer with a Java-enabled web browser and functioning Internet access.

In comparison to local email clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, Pmail etc., all necessary configuration settings are stored on the mailbox provider's server.