IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol and is a protocol used to access emails via an email client on a remote server.
Key Features
IMAP is particularly beneficial for users managing email across multiple devices. The protocol stores messages on remote servers rather than downloading them locally, enabling synchronisation across smartphones, tablets, and computers. When users read, download, or modify emails on one device, those changes automatically reflect on all other devices accessing the same account.
An additional advantage is IMAP's ability to download only email headers initially, potentially providing faster access compared to other protocols.