Suggest an editImprove this articleRefine the answer for “What is IMAP?”. Your changes go to moderation before they’re published.Approval requiredContentWhat you’re changing🇺🇸EN🇺🇦UAPreviewTitle (EN)Short answer (EN)**IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)** is an application-layer protocol used to work with email directly on the mail server. It lets you read and manage mail on the server rather than downloading it entirely to a device. **Key point:** because mail is stored on the server, the same state (folders, labels, read/unread) stays in sync across every device.Shown above the full answer for quick recall.Answer (EN)Image**IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)** is an **application-layer protocol** used to **work with email directly on the mail server**. In short: **IMAP lets you read and manage mail on the server, rather than downloading it entirely to a device**. --- ## Why IMAP is needed IMAP is used when you need to: - work with mail **from multiple devices** - see the same messages on your phone, laptop, and webmail - store messages on the server - sync the state of messages That is why IMAP is the **default standard in modern mail services**. --- ## How IMAP works (simplified) 1. The mail client connects to the server 2. It authenticates 3. The client: - requests a list of messages - reads messages - marks them as read - moves them between folders 4. **All changes are saved on the server** The client only receives the data it needs, not all the mail at once. --- ## IMAP's main trait **Mail is stored on the server**, and the client is just a "window" for viewing it. This means: - the same message is visible on every device - folders and labels stay in sync - the "read / unread" status is the same everywhere --- ## IMAP vs POP3 (short and simple) - **IMAP** - messages on the server - suits multiple devices - state syncing - **POP3** - messages are downloaded to the device - more often deleted from the server - poorly suited to multiple devices If an interview asks "which one would you choose?", **IMAP is almost always the right answer**. --- ## IMAP security Classic IMAP: - does not encrypt data In practice people use: - **IMAPS (IMAP + SSL/TLS)** --- ## A real-life example IMAP is like cloud storage for mail: - messages live "in the cloud" - you log in from any device - you see the same mailboxFor the reviewerNote to the moderator (optional)Visible only to the moderator. Helps review go faster.