IMAP Mailbox Protocol

What is IMAP?

Internet Message Access Protocol, also known as "IMAP". The email messages are stored on the server. For example, if you send a message from work, when you open your email account at home, it will still be on the server. When using this technology, there aren't any copies of the messages stored on your computer (unless you do something special to copy them). The email messages reside on the server. Many internet providers don't support IMAP.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of IMAP?

Advantages

• Available from any computer.
• No data loss risk if something happens to your computer as email is stored on the server.
• No email client needed on your computer, You can access your mail directly from the web.
• Server-side filters makes sorting emails easy (business from personal etc).
• Your mail is synchronized between the computers you access it with and the server.

Disadvantages

• You must be connected to the internet to access your email.
• Large quantities of mail can be costly to store on servers.

Learn about the the advantages and disadvantages of using POP3.