| Electronic mail, popularly known as email, is a process | | | | PROTOCOL. |
| of exchanging messages digitally. In this process | | | | There are certain differences between POP/POP3 |
| messages are stored and forwarded through | | | | and IMAP server. The differences majorly lie in the |
| different storage servers. In these servers email data | | | | way these servers operate. Both have their own |
| are stored and fetched when required. | | | | pros and cons. |
| A Brief Detail | | | | ● POP3 always downloads all new emails locally |
| An email has two parts: the header and the body. | | | | to your computer. |
| The header contains important information like | | | | ● IMAP downloads message summaries and |
| sender's address, the time email was sent and | | | | doesn't download the entire message until you want |
| delivered etc. | | | | it to. |
| Email was initially just a text message. However, with | | | | ● POP3 downloads all emails into 1 mail folder |
| the gradual improvement in technology, attachments | | | | called "Inbox". |
| became a part of emails too. Gone are those days | | | | ● IMAP preserves your folder structure in a |
| when email messages had a meager size limit of a | | | | main folder called "imap.*.com". |
| few KBs. Nowadays, messages of more than 10 MB | | | | ● POP3 is useful if you only access your email |
| can be sent easily. | | | | from one computer, since the email is typically |
| Email Clients | | | | downloaded locally (this is the default and can be |
| Now let's find out what the email clients are. There | | | | changed). |
| are different standalone email clients like MS Outlook, | | | | ● IMAP allows email to be manipulated from a |
| Outlook express, Thunderbird, Seamonkey etc. On | | | | desktop computer at home, a workstation at the |
| the other hand, there are also some popular web | | | | office, and a notebook computer while traveling, |
| based email clients like Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo etc. | | | | without the need to transfer messages or files back |
| Whichever email client you use, the tasks performed | | | | and forth between these computers. |
| are overall the same. Following are some of the | | | | ● With POP3, your emails can be automatically |
| activities that your email client will let you do: | | | | erased from the server after they are downloaded |
| ● Shows you a list of all of the messages in | | | | freeing up space in your account. |
| your mailbox by displaying the message headers. The | | | | ● IMAP keeps all emails on the server until you |
| header shows you who sent the mail, the subject of | | | | erase them. |
| the mail and may also show the time and date of the | | | | Now let's throw some light on the SMTP server. Let's |
| message and the message size. | | | | find out what it is and what its functions are. SMTP |
| ● Lets you select a message header and read | | | | stands for SIMPLE MAIL TRANSFER PROTOCOL. |
| the body of the e-mail message. | | | | SMTP is used for delivering emails to the recipient's |
| ● Lets you create new messages and send | | | | email address. It is used in conjunction with a POP |
| them. You type in the e-mail address of the recipient | | | | POP3 or IMAP server. Email clients use either a POP3 |
| and the subject of the message, and then type the | | | | or IMAP along with SMTP. Without these, mails can |
| body of the message. | | | | only be received; you won't be able to send mails. |
| ● Lets you add attachments to the messages | | | | The last protocol is the HTTP, which stands for |
| you send and also save the attachments from | | | | HYPER TEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL. This is not a |
| messages you receive. | | | | protocol which is dedicated for email communications, |
| Email Servers | | | | though it can be used to compose or retrieve mails. |
| Now that we have learnt about email clients, let's find | | | | This is also called web based email. |
| out what else is required for the complete functioning | | | | The last one is the usage of MS Exchange for email |
| of the process. The most important of all, without | | | | clients like OUTLOOK. This is used in corporate |
| which emails will not work, is the Email Server for the | | | | environments with MS infrastructure solutions. Its |
| clients to connect to. | | | | major features include email, calendar, contacts and |
| There are different servers for different purposes. | | | | tasks etc. It also can be synched to a hand held |
| POP/POP3, IMAP servers handle incoming email, | | | | device or a mobile. It also supports data storage. |
| SMTP server handles outgoing email. | | | | MS exchange has come a long way with its different |
| POP stands for POST OFFICE PROTOCOL and IMAP | | | | versions starting from Exchange 1.0. The most recent |
| stands for INTERNET MESSAGE ACCESS | | | | version is MS Exchange Server 2010. |