Which term describes unsolicited advertising that finds its way into email inboxes?

Spam refers to unsolicited bulk messages, often sent for the purpose of advertising. This term is commonly associated with emails that users receive without having requested them. The essence of spam is that it clutters inboxes with irrelevant or unwanted content, interrupting the user's productivity and potentially leading to security risks if the spam contains malicious links or content.

The term "junk mail" is often used interchangeably with spam, but it typically refers to physical mail rather than electronic communication. Phishing involves fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information, often through deceptive emails that disguise themselves as trustworthy sources. Similarly, scams encompass a broader category of deceptive practices intended to defraud the recipient, but they do not specifically refer to mass unsolicited communications. Thus, spam is the most accurate term that encapsulates the nature of unsolicited advertising in email inboxes.