IMAP (Interactive Mail Access Protocol) is a protocol that gives you the ability to view your mailbox's messages from a client / application installed on a computer or mobile device (smartphone, tablet ...). It synchronizes messages and folders between the server and the mail program. The messages remain on the server and can be accessed by other programs at the same time. If you make changes to messages or folders on your device (delete, move ...), the action will be executed on the server.
Unlike POP (Post Office Protocol) that moves messages on your device (desktop or laptop, smartphone, tablet ...) and removes them from the server (ideal if you are offline).
IMAP has become practical for anyone who is used to utilize their messaging on multiple devices. With IMAP synchronization, you can select what you download on your program or application (message headers or specific folder) and thus optimize the storage/disk space and the connection/loading time.
| IMAP | POP | |
|---|---|---|
| Advantages | ||
| Advantages |
- Messages synchronization, including sent items, with the server. Ideal when using multiple devices or when moving. - Ability to recover data in case of customer device failure. |
- Minimal use of disk space. |
| Disadvantages | ||
| Disadvantages | - Disk space utilization on the server. |
- Messages loss in case of device failure. - Messages ranking is not the same between the server and the client. - Messages are inaccessible for other computers once recovered. |
| Settings | ||
| Settings |
- Incoming server: mail.domain.com * - Secure Port (SSL/TLS): 993 - Unsecured Port: 143 (not recommended) |
- Incoming server: mail.domain.com * - Secure Port (SSL/TLS): 995 - Unsecured Port: 110 (not recommended) |
* Replace "domain.com" with your domain name.