A protocol is a standard method, usually for which to transfer information. To handle your email, you need to use an email client to reach your mail server. There are variety of protocols which help client and mail server to exchange information.
POP3 Protocol
The POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) is providing a very standardized and simple access to mailboxes and let users download messages to their computers. You may also leave copies of your emails on the server. The only disadvantage of POP3, you may have lots of spam messages. But, POP3 is really fast. There has been some rumors about POP4, no progress has been observed since 2003.
IMAP Protocol
Imap is internet message access protocol, a standard protocol to access your email from a local server. It receives and held your email for you by your mail server. It requires a small amount of data transfer, so could work even with slowest modem connections. Emails only downloaded when a specific email message will be read. You may create and manipulate folders or delete messages on the server. Imap allows using encryption, when you are sending and receiving your mails, thus is more secure. Microsoft Outlook is the best client for IMAP protocol.
SMTP Protocol
The SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the way of Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) to deliver your eMail to the recipient’s mail server. The SMTP protocol cannot receive emails, it can only send them.According to your network settings, you may only be able to use the SMTP under certain conditions.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Very interesting information. All this type of stuff has always confused me to no end so its good to see it broken down some. I had never even heard of SMTP before probably because Im not in a situation where I send email without receiving a response. That could be really useful though for business purposes I guess.
So are standard free internet providers like yahoo and gmail Pop3? You said that emails are deleted with the option to save a copy so I’m not sure… That was always what I had thought before though…
Oh, that made my head hurt. It seems like such a simple thing, checking email. I had no idea that so much when into it.
Thank goodness for the people who know how to make the mail appear in my inbox.
J’aimerais savoir quel est mon nom de serveur de messagerie pour courrier entrant ainsi que mon nom d’utilisateur puisque j’aimerais aussi recevoir mon courrier sur mon adresse hotmail.
Merci de votre réponse
Audrey POtvin