ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Return address

When you write a letter to somebody, you put their address on the envelope so that the letter can find its way to them. But what happens if the letter can't be delivered? That's where the return address comes in.

The return address is your address, which you write on the envelope so that if the letter can't be delivered, it will come back to you instead of getting lost forever. It's like a safety net for your letter.

The same thing happens when you send an email or a package through the mail. You give the person or company you're sending it to an address to make sure it gets to the right place, and you put your own return address in case there's a problem.

So think of a return address like a backup plan for your mail. It's there just in case something goes wrong, so your message can find its way back to you.