An e-mail reflector is a program that acts as the forwarding broadcaster of e-mail messages to the names on a distribution list. Here’s how it works:

One member of the distribution list composes an e-mail message or replies to one.

The user sends the message to the e-mail reflector (which to the user usually appears to be the list itself) on the server of whomever is managing the e-mail reflector.

The e-mail reflector receives the message and automatically forwards a copy to each person on the distribution list.

The advantage is that the distribution list can be centrally managed so that everyone will always have the most up-to-date version. Some Internet server products come with an e-mail reflector utility.