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TYS Support Center -
IMAP vs. POP3
What is IMAP?
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is a standard protocol for
accessing e-mail from your local computer. IMAP is a client/server
protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you on the
servers. You (by using your e-mail client, such as Outlook Express,
Netscape Messenger or Eudora) can view just the header information,
which includes the sender and subject of the letter, allowing you to
decide whether to download the message or not. You can also create
and manipulate folders or mailboxes on the server, delete messages,
or search for certain parts or an entire note.
What is POP3?
Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) is also a standard protocol for
receiving e-mail and is also a client/server protocol in which
e-mail is received and held for you on the servers. With POP3, your
mail is saved in a mailbox on the remote server until you check your
mail. When you check your mail, all of the mail is immediately
downloaded to your computer and is no longer maintained on the
server.
What’s the Difference?
IMAP can be thought of as a remote file server, while POP3 can be
thought of as a "store-and-forward" service. Ultimately they both
accomplish similar tasks but often one will suit your needs better
than the other.
What are the Benefits of IMAP?
Since you can view just the header information without downloading
the entire message, you can delete large messages without wasting
time for downloading them. Also, because the messages remain on the
server, you can access your mail from multiple locations and ensure
that your messages are always available for you. And, with the
messages remaining on the servers if your computer crashes you don’t
have to worry about losing your messages.
What are the Benefits of POP3?
Since all of your messages are downloaded immediately, after you
check your mail at your computer, you do not need to actually be
connected to the Internet to read your email. Also, because the
messages are downloaded to your computer you do not need to worry
about accruing disk usage charges because the messages do not stay
on the servers.
What are the Drawbacks to IMAP?
Unlike POP3, IMAP requires continual access to the server during the
time that you are working with your mail. Also, because the messages
are stored on the server, it becomes much easier to go over your
disk quota. However, you can reduce this risk by taking specific
steps to not leave your Sent Mail, Drafts or Trash on the server.
And like any new service, there is a slight learning curve to get
used to IMAP since most people are used to using POP3.
What are the Drawbacks to POP3?
The major drawback to POP3 is that it is an older protocol that was
designed before people were able to easily send large emails with
attachments. Because POP3 downloads all the mail on the server at
once, people are occasionally unable to successfully receive their
messages because POP3 will get stuck or disconnect when trying to
download large messages. To fix this people will either need to
contact tech support or log onto our web mail system to delete the
large messages themselves. Also, if you use POP3 and are traveling
or check your mail from multiple locations, you will not be able to
view any of your old mail because the messages only exist on the
computer on which you originally received your mail.
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