event sink

An event sink, sometimes called a listener, is a piece of coding that defines how a server or computer is to handle given events. Event sinks are often used in spam filters to trigger actions in response to the receipt of an e-mail message with defined characteristics or certain types of attachments. The destination of data handled by such a program is also sometimes called an event sink.

An event sink directs messages with certain characteristics away from the user's inbox. Such messages may be sent to a quarantine folder or be rejected outright. Each time a message is directed away from the inbox, the program may notify the sender and/or the intended recipient, depending on how the program is written.

Among other things, you can use an event sink to specify that:

• Attachments will to certain drives or folders
• Attachments will be ignored or blocked
• Messages that would cause an excess of stored data will be rejected
• Messages with suspicious characteristics will be quarantined or rejected
• Network traffic will be routed to specific destinations, depending on characteristics or content.

Event sink should not be confused with its homophone, event sync, which refers to the synchronization of events.