Internet Message Access Protocol
| Internet protocol suite |
|---|
| Application layer |
| Transport layer |
| Internet layer |
| Link layer |
In computing, the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is an Internet standard protocol used by email clients to retrieve email messages from a mail server over a TCP/IP connection.[1] IMAP is defined by RFC 9051.
IMAP was designed with the goal of permitting complete management of an email box by multiple email clients; therefore, clients generally leave messages on the server until the user explicitly deletes them. An IMAP server typically listens on port number 143. IMAP over SSL/TLS (IMAPS) is assigned the port number 993.[2][3]
Virtually all modern e-mail clients and servers support IMAP, which along with the earlier POP3 (Post Office Protocol) are the two most prevalent standard protocols for email retrieval.[4] Many webmail service providers such as Gmail and Outlook.com also support for both IMAP and POP3.
- ^ Dean, Tamara (2010). Network+ Guide to Networks. Delmar. p. 519. ISBN 978-1-42390245-4. Archived from the original on 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
- ^ Blum, Richard (December 15, 2002). Open Source E-mail Security. Sams Publishing. ISBN 9780672322372. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via Google Books.
- ^ Garfinkel, Simson; Spafford, Gene; Schwartz, Alan (December 15, 2003). Practical UNIX and Internet Security. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". ISBN 9780596003234. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via Google Books.
- ^ Komarinski, Mark (2000). Red Hat Linux System Administration Handbook. Prentice Hall. p. 179.