POP3 Mailbox Protocol

What is POP3?

Post office protocol (also called POP) downloads email directly to your computer. When this happens, the mail is deleted from the server. This process prevents you from reading the same email messages again when you access your mail from another computer. The benefit of POP mail is since messages are downloaded directly to your computer, you can read them even if you aren't connected to the internet.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of POP3?

Advantages

• Your email's are stored on your computer.
• Unlikely to run out of server space as email's are deleted from it once you have downloaded them.
• Consolidation of many email accounts and servers to deliver to one inbox.

Disadvantages

• No copy of the emails stored on the server.
• Can't use it efficiently synchronize email between different device (for example, your smartphone and computer).
• Mail is stored in one place only.
• When downloaded mail takes up space on your computers hard drive.

Learn about the the advantages and disadvantages of using IMAP.