The interactions between email servers and clients are governed by email protocols. The three common email protocols are POP3, IMAP, and MAPI. Here, I’m going to tell you about two important protocols POP3 and IMAP.
POP3 and IMAP both are application layer Internet standard protocols used by email clients for email retrieval and storage. IMAP is designed as an alternative to POP (Post Office Protocol).
Now, I’m going to tell you about both of them: POP3 and IMAP individually. After that, you’ll learn the appropriate and exact differences between these two email protocols.
Post Office Protocol (POP)
POP stands for Post Office Protocol. As POP is an older design of email protocol, it continuously releases its new versions to enhance with compatibility and performance. Its current version is POP3.
The main procedure of POP3 is to retrieve all inbound messages from remote server to download on client side and delete them from the server side. The important benefit of this protocol is that you can disconnect from the server after storing the mail and read it offline.
However, most email clients have the option to leave the copies of emails on the server after downloading, but generally, most POP uses the flow – download copy, delete, and disconnect from the server.
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)
IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol which was developed in 1986 as an alternative to POP (Post Office Protocol). The IMAP is now in version 4 and that’s why written as IMAP4. It is a newer email protocol.
IMAP unlike POP allows multiple clients simultaneously connected to the same mailbox. Different clients accessing the same mailbox at the same or different times can detect state changes made by other clients through flags stored on the server.
Difference Between POP3 & IMAP
There’re multiple differences between POP3 and IMAP email protocols. I’ve listed them one by one, that’s why you’ll feel easiness in learning.
- IMAP unlike POP, specifically allows multiple clients simultaneously connected to the same mailbox.
- In POP3, you need to download all email again when using another desktop PC to check your email. But in IMAP, you don’t need to download all email when using another desktop PC to check your email.
- In POP3, you may be confused about identifying unread emails but in IMAP it’s much easier to identify unread emails.
- In POP3, the mails may be deleted after being downloaded from the server according to your client’s setting, whereas there is no danger of removing mails in IMAP.
- All messages as well as their attachments will be downloaded onto a desktop PC during the ‘check new email’ process in POP3 and in IMAP the whole message will be downloaded only when it is opened for display.
- In POP3, there is no option for creating mailboxes on the server. There’s only one mailbox (Inbox) on the server. You can create mailboxes on the desktop while using POP3. On the other hand, with IMAP you can create multiple mailboxes on the desktop as well as on the server.
So, I think these differences and the above-given information are enough to know about POP3 and IMAP. I hope you have learned what really POP, POP3, and IMAP are. If there is still any problem, then our comment box welcomes you!
