Email has evolved significantly since its invention in the 1960s. It started as a simple messaging system but grew to become the "killer app" of the internet due to its low cost, ease of use, and ability to be accessed from any device with connectivity. Key developments like SMTP, POP, IMAP, and MIME have allowed email to support attachments, non-text content, and interoperability across different service providers and devices. However, the openness of email has also enabled issues like spam and potential security risks to emerge.