POP3 and IMAP are two protocols used for accessing email from a remote server.
POP3, or Post Office Protocol version 3, is a simple protocol for downloading email from a server to a client. With POP3, the email messages are downloaded to the client’s device and stored there, allowing for offline access to the messages. However, since the messages are stored only on the client device, if the device is lost or damaged, all the stored emails will be lost.
IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, on the other hand, keeps the emails on the server and allows the client to access and manipulate the emails as if they were stored locally. With IMAP, multiple devices can access the same email account and all changes made to the email on one device are synchronized with all other devices. This allows for a more seamless email experience across multiple devices.
In summary, the main difference between POP3 and IMAP is where the emails are stored. With POP3, emails are stored on the client device, while with IMAP, they are stored on the server. IMAP is a better choice for those who want to access their email from multiple devices and keep the emails synchronized, while POP3 is a good choice for those who only need to access email from one device and want to save storage space on that device.