- 2074 Chaitra · 3 marks
Compare POP3 and IMAP
Short answer
POP3 downloads mail to one client and usually deletes it from the server, while IMAP keeps mail on the server and synchronizes folders across multiple devices. POP3 uses port 110, IMAP uses port 143; IMAP supports server-side search and partial download.
Give a comparison of POP3 and IMAP.
Both POP3 and IMAP are mail retrieval (access) protocols used by a user agent to fetch messages from the mail server. SMTP only sends mail.
| Point | POP3 | IMAP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Port | 110 (995 secure) | 143 (993 secure) |
| Mail storage | Downloaded to the client; usually deleted from server | Stays on the server |
| Multiple devices | Poor (mail only on one device) | Good (synchronised state on all devices) |
| Folders | Only one inbox on the server | Create and manage folders on the server |
| Partial download | Whole message downloaded | Headers first; parts of a message can be fetched |
| Server-side search | Not supported | Supported |
| Offline use | Good, since mail is local | Needs connection (or cached copy) |
| Complexity | Simple | More complex |
| Server storage | Low | High |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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