What does imap

IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. It is a protocol used by email clients to retrieve and view email messages from a mail server. IMAP allows for emails to be stored on the server, rather than just being downloaded to the client device, which allows for multiple devices to access the same mailbox and for messages to be easily synced across devices. IMAP is often used in conjunction with other email protocols such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and POP (Post Office Protocol).

PatrickGill wrote:

IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. It is a protocol used by email clients to retrieve and view email messages from a mail server. IMAP allows for emails to be stored on the server, rather than just being downloaded to the client device, which allows for multiple devices to access the same mailbox and for messages to be easily synced across devices. IMAP is often used in conjunction with other email protocols such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and POP (Post Office Protocol).

Very good explanation!

PatrickGill wrote:

[snip]

IMAP is often used in conjunction with other email protocols such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and POP (Post Office Protocol).

You will usually find either IMAP -or- POP is the protocol used by the mail recipient to read From their mail server. The two protocols are roughly equivalent and both used for incoming mail, so only one of the two would be used. However, SMTP is still commonly used by internet mail clients to send outgoing mail To the first server in the delivery chain.

It will be interesting to see how long these protocols remain in regular use before they are superseded. Pop and SMTP are some of the original round of internet methods.

Internet Message Access Protocol. Its a way of accessing an email server.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Message_Access_Protocol