What is IMAP?

IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol and is is a method of accessing email messages on a server without having to download them to your local hard drive.

The advantage of using an IMAP mail server is that users can check their mail from multiple computers and always see the same messages. This is because the messages stay on the server until the user chooses to download them to his or her local drive.

Most email clients will allow you to specify which protocol you wish to set up an email account with.

There are several advantages to using IMAP.

1. It allows you to access your email messages from anywhere, via as many different devices as you want.
2. IMAP only downloads a message when you click on it. As a result, you do not have to wait for all of your new messages to download from the server before you can read them.
3. In IMAP, attachments will not automatically downloaded. As a result, you're able to check your messages a lot more quickly and have greater control over which attachments are opened.
4. IMAP can be used offline just like POP - you can basically enjoy the benefits of both protocols in one.