Email · Website glossary

IMAP

Quick answer · What is IMAP?

Internet Message Access Protocol lets clients access and manage messages held on a mail server.

IN PRACTICE

IMAP: an example

A user's phone and laptop show folders and message state from the same server mailbox.

KEEP IN MIND

Deleting or moving messages in a synchronized client can change the server mailbox too.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of IMAP?

A user's phone and laptop show folders and message state from the same server mailbox.

Can actions in an IMAP client change the server mailbox?

Deleting or moving messages in a synchronized client can change the server mailbox too.

Which concepts should I read alongside IMAP?

POP3: Post Office Protocol version 3 is a protocol for retrieving messages from a server mailbox.
Mailbox: A storage destination for messages associated with an email account.