A hyphen, or minus sign, can be a valid character within the local part of an electronic mail address (the portion preceding the “@” symbol). For example, consider an address structured as “first-last@example.com”. This demonstrates the allowable usage of the character in distinguishing or delineating sections of the address.
The utilization of this character offers increased flexibility in creating memorable or easily discernible addresses. It can serve to improve readability, particularly when incorporating multiple words or segments in the address’s local part. Its inclusion has been a standard practice since the earliest specifications for electronic messaging protocols, lending it historical significance and widespread acceptance across various platforms and service providers.
