What are some of the advantages of IMAP over POP3?

Question

What are some of the advantages of IMAP over POP3?

Answer 1

It's a live connection so you see what it actually on the server. Where pop3 downloads and doesn't maintain the connection and you only see what is there on refresh.



You will see a huge lag and freeze times going with IMAP because it has to download everything and constantly sync.

Answer 2

hmm imap is a fast one man

it maintains a constant link with youre yahoo or gmail and notifies you the second a email arrives the pop doesnt do that u have to manually make it check for updates

so basically imap is good for post paid connections and pop for prepaid ones

Answer 3

- ability to use mail folders on the server

- keeping the mailbox on the server, not on your computer





Edit: IMAP has a lag if it's f8cked up, under normal circumstances it should not be syncing all the time, at least not using that much bandwidth to slow you down.