IMAPa

IMAPa, also known as IMAP4, is an internet message access protocol used for retrieving email from a mail server. It is a part of the TCP/IP suite and is defined by RFC 3501. Unlike POP3, which downloads emails to the client and then deletes them from the server, IMAP allows users to access and manage their emails directly on the mail server. This means that emails remain on the server, enabling access from multiple devices and clients simultaneously while keeping them synchronized.

When a user connects to an IMAP server, they can view email headers, download specific messages, create folders on the server, move messages between folders, and mark messages as read or unread. The server maintains the state of the mailbox, ensuring consistency across all connected clients. This makes IMAP particularly useful for users who access their email from various devices, such as a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, and smartphone.

Common IMAP commands include LOGIN for authentication, SELECT for selecting a mailbox, FETCH for retrieving message data, STORE for modifying message flags, CREATE for creating new mailboxes, and DELETE for removing mailboxes. IMAP typically operates on port 143 for unencrypted connections and port 993 for secure connections using SSL/TLS, often referred to as IMAPS. The protocol's flexibility and synchronization capabilities have made it a popular choice for email access in both personal and business environments.