The following table lists some common e-mail tasks and compares how they are carried out with the POP protocol to how they're carried out with the IMAP protocol:
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POP |
IMAP |
| What does it stand for? | Post Office Protocol | Internet Message Access Protocol |
| Which protocol would suit me best? | If you access mail using only one computer, e.g. your office PC or a laptop. | If you want to access your mail from multiple computers or locations. |
| Which mail programs can I use? | All email programs or clients have POP capability | Most email programs have IMAP capability and you will also be able to access your mail via a web page using any web browser. |
| Some Common Tasks: | ||
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Check for incoming mail |
Typically, incoming messages are transferred to your local machine when you check your incoming mail. Only new messages are available if you connect to the server using a PC other than the one you normally use. You are connected to the server only for the transfer of messages. |
Typically, incoming messages stay on the server when you check your mail; only headers are transferred with full messages only downloaded when selected for reading. All your messages are always available no matter where or how you connect to the server. You remain connected to the server while reading your mail; however, some email clients allow for off-line working. |
|
Read and respond to mail |
Reading and responding to messages is only done on your local machine. |
You can read and respond to messages directly on the server. You can also read and respond to messages on your local machine, after downloading for offline working (depending on client). When you reconnect, your mailboxes are resynchronized to reflect any changes you made. |
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Create mailboxes for storing messages |
Creating mailboxes can be done only on your local machine. |
You can create mailboxes directly on the server. By default, an Inbox is automatically created on the server when you begin using IMAP. The Inbox functions as the master mailbox (or folder) as well as the mailbox for incoming messages. All other mailboxes, including a trash box, need to be created within the Inbox. |
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Move messages in and out of mailboxes |
You can move messages in and out of mailboxes only on your local machine. |
You can move messages in and out of mailboxes on the server and on your local machine. |
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Transfer messages from local machine to server and vice versa |
You cannot transfer any messages from your local machine to the server. Messages are automatically transferred from the server to your local machine when you check your incoming mail. |
You can transfer individual messages from mailboxes on your local machine into mailboxes on the server and vice versa. |
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Delete selected messages on the server |
When using some clients (e.g. Eudora), if you specified to leave messages on the server, you can delete individual messages left there. |
You can delete individual messages and groups of messages directly on the server as well as on your local machine.
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