IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a
protocol
used to retrieve and store emails. More recent than
POP
, IMAP allows folders and rules on the server.
Unlike POP3, IMAP allows multiple simultaneous connections to one mailbox. Clients accessing a mailbox can receive information about state changes made from other clients. IMAP also provides a mode for clients to stay connected and receive information on demand.
Mark Crispin initially developed IMAP in 1986 as
Interim Mail Access Protocol
. IMAP4 revision 1 is the current version, defined by
RFC 3501
.
