The Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is an email retrieval protocol that enables an email client to access and manage email messages stored on a mail server. IMAP allows users to view, read, organise, and manipulate their email messages while keeping them stored on the server.
IMAP enables users to access their email messages stored on a remote mail server. Unlike POP (Post Office Protocol), which typically downloads emails to a local device and removes them from the server, IMAP allows users to manage emails directly on the server.
With IMAP, emails are stored on the mail server, allowing users to access their messages from multiple devices (such as computers, smartphones, or tablets) and different email clients while maintaining synchronisation across all devices.
IMAP supports the retrieval and management of email attachments and messages formatted using Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME), allowing for the transfer of multimedia content within emails.
IMAP is widely used by email clients and provides a flexible and efficient way to access, manage, and store email messages on a server, offering users the convenience of accessing their emails from multiple devices without losing synchronisation or control over their messages.