Definition
The email footer serves both legal and functional purposes. Legally required elements vary by jurisdiction but typically include: an unsubscribe link (required by CAN-SPAM, GDPR, CASL), your physical mailing address, and a privacy policy link. Optional but recommended elements include a preference centre link, social media icons, and a "view in browser" link. Footer links should be clearly visible, use readable font sizes (11-12px minimum), and be tappable on mobile with adequate spacing.
Related Glossary Terms
Accessible CTA (Email)
An accessible CTA is a button or link coded with sufficient colour contrast, visible focus states, descriptive screen-reader text, and a minimum touch target of 44×44 pixels.
AMP for Email
AMP for Email is a Google-developed framework that allows email messages to include interactive elements like forms, carousels, accordions, and live content. It turns static emails into dynamic, interactive experiences directly inside the inbox.
CAN-SPAM Act
The CAN-SPAM Act is a US law that sets rules for commercial email. It requires accurate subject lines, a physical address, a clear opt-out mechanism, and prompt processing of unsubscribes. Violations can result in penalties up to $51,744 per email.
Consent Expiry (Email Marketing)
Consent expiry is the time period after which a subscriber's permission to send marketing emails legally expires and must be re-obtained, varying by jurisdiction and consent type.
Dark Mode
Dark mode in email refers to how email clients render messages when the recipient has dark mode enabled. It affects colour display, image rendering, and readability. Designers use CSS media queries and hybrid coding techniques to control the dark mode appearance.
Right to Data Portability (GDPR)
The right to data portability allows individuals to obtain and reuse their personal data across different services, including exporting subscriber data from email marketing platforms.