What type of software design does web-based email typically utilize?

Web-based email typically utilizes the client-server model. In this architecture, the client refers to the user's web browser or email client application that sends requests to the server. The server, which hosts the web-based email service, processes these requests and provides the necessary resources, such as accessing email data and processing user actions. This model allows multiple clients to interact with a centralized server, enabling functionalities like email retrieval, sending, and storage while ensuring data integrity and security.

The client-server model is particularly well-suited for web-based applications, as it can handle numerous users at once, scale efficiently, and support the diverse functionalities offered by modern email services. Other architectures, such as peer-to-peer or standalone systems, do not align with the standardized way that web-based email platforms operate, which often require consistent access to server-side resources for data management and synchronization. Embedded systems, while important in many applications, are not typically applicable in the context of web-based email.