Temporary Email: A Developer’s Practical Notes on Privacy Tools

Last week, while collecting various API documents and developer tools for a new open-source project, I encountered a frustrating issue: nearly every developer resource website required me to register and verify an email address. Afterward, my inbox started filling up with marketing emails and promotional notifications.

At that moment, I realized I needed a temp mail.

The Problem and the Solution

As a developer, I frequently need to register for many services: testing new APIs, downloading SDK documentation, signing up for test accounts to verify registration flows in my apps… Using my real email every time means my inbox is forever flooded with marketing emails and notifications.

A friend once joked, “Your main email isn’t a work tool anymore; it’s a battlefield for marketing campaigns.” Though exaggerated, that hit the nail on the head.

When I needed to create 20 test accounts to verify a new registration flow I was developing, a temp mail became my lifesaver.

What is a Temporary Email?

Temporary email (also called a disposable or anonymous email) has become an indispensable tool in my development work. It requires no registration—just open the website and instantly get a usable email address. Use it and toss it away, simple and efficient.

The first time I used a temp mail, I was surprised at its simplicity—no complicated interface, no mandatory sign-up, just a randomly generated email address and a message inbox. As a fan of minimalistic design, it was exactly what I wanted.

My Practical Use Cases

In daily development, I find temporary email especially useful in these scenarios:

Bulk Testing Registration Flows: When I need to verify an app’s registration logic, creating 10 different test accounts is incredibly easy. No more worrying about “email already registered” errors!
API Service Comparison Testing: Last month, I needed to compare three different payment API providers. Each required registering a developer account, so using temporary emails let me quickly sign up and obtain test credentials without the hassle of marketing emails afterward.
Downloading Developer Resources: Many SDKs, tutorials, and developer tools are hidden behind “free download” email verifications. Temporary emails let me quickly receive these resources without risking privacy leaks.
Temporary Team Collaboration: Once, while collaborating briefly with external developers, we used a temporary email to register a shared project management platform. After the project ended, the email naturally expired, leaving no trace.

Experience and Suggestions

After months of practice, here are some lessons from using temporary emails:

Advantages:

Improved Development Efficiency: No more email issues during testing, so I can focus on code and functionality.
Privacy Protection: My main inbox sees far fewer spam emails; important messages are no longer drowned out.
Hassle-Free Use: No need to remember extra passwords or accounts—just open the site and use it.

Limitations:

Major platforms like GitHub and AWS detect and block temporary email domains, which is reasonable because these platforms require reliable identity verification.
Some temporary email services are unstable. I once experienced a service outage while waiting for an important API key email.