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.

Current version: 4.

See RFC 2060, RFC 2061, and others.

Compare: POP.

(1999-03-14)