Internet Message Access Protocol

(protocol, messaging)

(IMAP) A protocol allowing a client to access and manipulate electronic mail messages on a server. It permits manipulation of remote message folders (mailboxes), in a way that is functionally equivalent to local mailboxes.

IMAP includes operations for creating, deleting, and renaming mailboxes; checking for new messages; permanently removing messages; searching; and selective fetching of message attributes, texts, and portions thereof. It does not specify a means of posting mail; this function is handled by a mail transfer protocol such as SMTP.

Latest version: 4.

See RFC 2060, RFC 2061, and others.

Compare: POP.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Standards, such as simple mail transport protocol (SMTP), post office protocol (POP) and Internet message access protocol (IMAP), were created and incorporated into the Internet, as well as integrated into other messaging platforms based on client-server technology.

E-mail outsourcing frees up IT pros for core business initiatives

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.