zlacker

Isn’t the only difference between pop and imap that pop removes the mail from the server? I only use imap, and all my email is available offline.

>>Jaxan+(OP)
No, the difference is that IMAP doesn't store anything other than headers on the client (at least, not until the user tries to read a message), while POP3 eagerly downloads messages whenever they're available. A POP3 client can be configured with various remote retention policies, or even to never delete downloaded messages.

I don't have an IMAP account available to check, but AFAIK, you should not have locally the content of any message you've never read before. The whole point of IMAP is that it doesn't download messages, but instead acts like a window into the server.

>>fluori+Y2
Also, IMAP syncs the other way. If you locally tag a message locally or move it to another folder, it also happens on the server.

>>Jaxan+(OP)
POP is a simple mail transfer protocol (hehe...). It supports three things: get number of mails, download mail by number, delete mail by number. This is what you need to move mails in bulk from one point to another. POP3 mail clients are local maildir clients that use POP3 to get new mail from the server. It's like SMTP if it were based on polling.

IMAP is an interactive protocol that is closer to the interaction between Gmail frontend and backend. It does many things. The client implements a local view of a central source of truth.

>>Jaxan+(OP)
Depending on what you configured. It can also keep the mail on the server.

>>Jaxan+(OP)
Not at all. IMAP can do a lot of complex operations on the email while leaving it on the server, for example you can have the server search the email, flag it (mark it important, or read, or unread).

POP can download the email, and that's about it.

>>ars+fl1
Yeah, because then the client can do whatever it wants with the messages. The operations don't need any further support from the protocol.

>>fluori+1W1
The idea with IMAP is multiple clients can work with your email - for example your desktop and your phone can both see the same messages and manipulate them, even offline.

Gmail basically is IMAP with a couple extras, and your desktop (via a browser) and your phone (via a dedicated app) can both see the same messages. Only the phone can work offline though, because there is little demand for a dedicated desktop email client, it's always via a browser. But Google could easily make such a thing if they wanted.