A system and method is provided to enable an e-mail to display a Web-based
form. A definition concerning an e-mail address may include form schema
owned by a Web site. Alternatively, the definition may contain a link to
a Web service that provides the form schema. An e-mail client may
download the form schema from the Web service, preferably along with
additional data such as information concerning previous e-mails sent to
the e-mail address, a FAQ list concerning an e-mail distribution list if
the e-mail address represents the e-mail distribution list, etc. The Web
site owning the form schema may receive and process e-mail containing the
form according to the metadata of the Web-based form.