What is an email property in Notion?

An email property in Notion is a specialized database field designed to store and interact with email addresses, functioning as both a data container and a communication tool. When you add an email property to any Notion database, it automatically validates the formatting of entered addresses, transforms them into clickable mailto links, and enables sophisticated filtering and sorting capabilities. This property type serves as the foundation for organizing contact information, managing workflows, and creating seamless integrations with external email services. Understanding how email properties work can significantly enhance your ability to build effective CRM systems, project databases, and collaborative workspaces within Notion.

Setting up an email property requires just a few simple steps. Open your database, click "Add a property," select "Email," and give it a name. Once configured, you can enter valid email addresses that Notion will display as clickable links. When clicked, these links automatically open your default email client with a new message addressed to that contact. The property also supports Notion's powerful database features—you can filter records by email domain, group contacts by organization, or sort alphabetically by address.

The practical applications for email properties extend far beyond simple contact storage. Teams use them to build comprehensive CRM systems, tracking client communications alongside project status and deadlines. Event organizers leverage email properties to segment attendees by domain, making it easy to send targeted invitations to internal versus external participants. The property integrates seamlessly with Notion's API, enabling automated workflows through tools like Zapier—you can trigger email campaigns, sync contact data with external services, or automatically update database records based on email interactions.

While email properties offer substantial benefits, they do have limitations worth considering. Notion only validates email syntax—checking for the presence of @ symbols and domains—but doesn't verify whether addresses actually exist or can receive messages. You cannot send bulk emails directly from Notion; this requires integration with external email services. Additionally, Notion Mail currently supports only Gmail, though Outlook and IMAP integration are planned for future releases.

Email properties represent a thoughtful balance between simplicity and functionality, providing the structure needed for organized communication without overwhelming complexity. Whether you're building a personal contact database or managing enterprise-level customer relationships, these properties offer the flexibility to grow with your needs while maintaining the clean, intuitive interface that makes Notion so effective for collaborative work.