IMAP and POP They are the two most used protocols to access email, more specifically to read inboxes. In this post we are going to analyze the differences between the two, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. All this will help us when deciding which one to use to configure our mailbox according to our needs.
The first thing to clarify is what is a mail protocol. Without going into complexities, we can say that it is a group of rules that define the way in which the e-mail exchange mechanism between servers and clients is organized. Thanks to them we can send and receive messages through the network properly, whatever the device and operating system we use.
The most common e-mail protocols are three: POP, IMAP and SMTP, although the first two are the most important. Each of them works in a specific way. Each user must decide which is the best for him. Let's focus on analyzing the two main ones:
POP
POP (acronym in English for Post Office Protocol) it's a one-way protocol that manages the task of transmitting messages from the server to the client. To achieve this, this program connects to the server to download the mail; then it saves it in the local mail and, finally, it deletes the messages from the server and disconnects. The latest version of this protocol is called POP3, which is why it is common to see it with this nomenclature.
Using POP it is possible to activate the option to keep a copy of the messages on the server. However, this sometimes does not work well at all and it may happen that those messages left on the server cannot be recognized by the client, making it necessary to download them a second time.
In principle, the POP protocol was designed to respond to the needs of users accessing their mail from a single location. This is the reason why all the changes that a user makes to their messages, such as labeling them or moving them to another folder, will not be replicated on the server.
As a summary, these are the characteristics of POP, with its strengths and weaknesses:
- You only need an Internet connection to send and receive emails.
- It is designed to check and manage our mail from a single device.
- Emails are stored locally, accessible at all times, even without an Internet connection.
- Using the POP protocol we managed to save storage space on the server.
- Optionally, a copy of received emails can be left on the server, although changes made to them will not be syncronized.
IMAP
IMAP (acronym for Internet Messaging Access Protocol) is a bidirectional type protocol and much more modern and versatile than POP3. It was designed with users in mind who need to access their email inbox from different locations or devices.
In this way, each program that is used connects to the server and requests a copy of the messages, leaving the original copy on the remote server. On the other hand, in addition to what happens with the POP protocol, any changes the user may make to messages are also replicated to the server. And also, therefore, on all devices and programs connected to the account.
Another advantage to take into account is that, when configuring our mailbox with the IMAP protocol, we have the option of using other functions such as automatic classification rules or the simultaneous management of different identities through the same account.
This is a list of its main features:
- It is impossible to access our mail without an Internet connection.
- Since the emails are stored on the remote server, they can be accessed from multiple devices and using different programs.
- Changes made to messages are automatically replicated to the server.
- Like the POP protocol, we save space on our device, because the messages remain on the server.
- In the event that our device stops working, the messages are not lost, since the mail always remains online on the server.
IMAP vs. POP: which one to choose?
After you've discussed the pros and cons of using IMAP and POP, you've probably already drawn your own conclusions. In any case, considering what most users use on their different devices, the verdict is clear: IMAP is preferred.
The reason is simple: the POP3 protocol is somewhat outdated nowadays, where practically everything is connected to the Internet. Apart from this, if we take into account the comfort and fluidity at the time of its use, the synchronization (which is possible with IMAP and not with POP), is the point that makes the difference.