Email is something that everybody uses but most people don’t realize how it works. There are different email protocols that determine how email is downloaded, stored and accessed.
There are 3 types of email protocols: POP3, IMAP and SMTP. POP3 and IMAP are protocols that retrieve emails from a mail server, and SMTP is a protocol that sends emails from one email server to another.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol) allows you to download emails to a single computer. POP3 is designed to delete the emails from the server after the user has downloaded it. If you only access emails from one location, POP3 is a good choice. There are options to leave email on the server, but you should check with your email service provider to see if the option is available and for how long the email may be stored.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is similar to POP3 because it allows you to access your email from the email server but the emails are stored on the server and not deleted when downloaded. IMAP also allows you to view your emails on different computers and devices from any location simultaneously. If you view an email, move it to a different folder or make any other changes, those changes will be made on the server and will show on any device that is used to view the email in real time. You should check with your email service provide to see how long email will be stored.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used to send emails from one email server to another email server. The emails can then be retrieved with POP3 or IMAP. No matter what email program is being used, SMTP will be the protocol that sends the email over the internet, between servers.
Most email providers, such as Gmail or Yahoo, have customers access their email via IMAP. This is the reason users are able to check their email on different devices, at the same time, if needed. Some companies have a server that will only allow the user to open their emails at that location with a specific email client such as Outlook.
When setting up an email, it is important to know what type of email and what type of protocol will be used so the server can download and store the email properly.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
How does email work?
Email is something that everybody uses but most people don’t realize how it works. There are different email protocols that determine how email is downloaded, stored and accessed.
There are 3 types of email protocols: POP3, IMAP and SMTP. POP3 and IMAP are protocols that retrieve emails from a mail server, and SMTP is a protocol that sends emails from one email server to another.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol) allows you to download emails to a single computer. POP3 is designed to delete the emails from the server after the user has downloaded it. If you only access emails from one location, POP3 is a good choice. There are options to leave email on the server, but you should check with your email service provider to see if the option is available and for how long the email may be stored.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is similar to POP3 because it allows you to access your email from the email server but the emails are stored on the server and not deleted when downloaded. IMAP also allows you to view your emails on different computers and devices from any location simultaneously. If you view an email, move it to a different folder or make any other changes, those changes will be made on the server and will show on any device that is used to view the email in real time. You should check with your email service provide to see how long email will be stored.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used to send emails from one email server to another email server. The emails can then be retrieved with POP3 or IMAP. No matter what email program is being used, SMTP will be the protocol that sends the email over the internet, between servers.
Most email providers, such as Gmail or Yahoo, have customers access their email via IMAP. This is the reason users are able to check their email on different devices, at the same time, if needed. Some companies have a server that will only allow the user to open their emails at that location with a specific email client such as Outlook.
When setting up an email, it is important to know what type of email and what type of protocol will be used so the server can download and store the email properly.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
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