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What is the difference between IMAP and POP3 mail protocols?

IMAP – Is ideal for users who access their emails from multiple devices. Since emails are stored on server, changes made on one device are reflected across all devices. IMAP keeps your emails safe on a central server, which is helpful if your device is lost or broken because backups are available on your other devices.

POP3 – Is good for people who want to check their emails when they're not connected to internet a lot. It saves emails on your device, so you can access them without internet. This is helpful in places where internet is not always available. Also, with POP3, you have more control over how much space your emails take on server.

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  • IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) and POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) are both email protocols used to retrieve messages from a mail server, but they have distinct differences:
  • IMAP allows users to access and manage their email directly on the server, while POP3 downloads emails to a local device and typically deletes them from the server.
  • With IMAP, emails and folders are synchronized across multiple devices, whereas POP3 is designed for access from a single device.
  • IMAP supports multiple device access, keeping emails consistent across platforms, while POP3 is more suited for offline access with emails stored locally.
  • IMAP maintains email status (read, unread, flagged) on the server, whereas POP3 does not track these states once emails are downloaded.
  • IMAP offers better support for managing and organizing emails into folders on the server, while POP3 usually requires local folder management.
  • IMAP allows partial download of emails, such as headers only, for quicker access, whereas POP3 typically downloads entire messages.
  • IMAP is ideal for users who need to access their emails from various locations or devices, while POP3 is best for users who prefer to store emails on a single device.
  • IMAP requires a constant internet connection to access emails, whereas POP3 allows offline access once emails are downloaded.
  • IMAP generally uses more server storage space since emails are kept on the server, while POP3 reduces server storage by transferring emails to a local device.
  • IMAP provides better support for complex email operations and searches directly on the server, while POP3 offers limited server-side functionality.
  • IMAP is better for collaborative environments where multiple users might need to access the same email account, whereas POP3 is more personal and individual-centric.
  • IMAP is often considered more secure for accessing emails from public or shared networks, as it keeps emails on the server, while POP3 might expose downloaded emails to local security risks.