Email is also governed by protocols. Without most users realizing it, whenever they send or receive an email there are specific protocols that go to work to ensure delivery or receipt. This lesson focuses on the four most common email protocols in use today: IMAP, MIME, POP3, and SMTP.
IMAP
Internet Messaging Access Protocol (IMAP) is a standard mail server that:
Stores messages until users log on and download the messages
Allows messages to be archived in folders, mailboxes to be shared, multiple mail servers to be accessed
Allows users to read only a message header without having to accept the message
MIME
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) is a standard email protocol that:
Identifies the type of information in a message or document
Detects and transfers non-text data (such as colors and pictures in email messages) in an email file for email readers, Web servers, and browsers