Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

The Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) allows emails to be stored on a server and accessed from multiple devices—ideal for users who want to manage their emails on multiple devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Unlike POP3, emails are not deleted from the server but remain there and are synchronized.

The secure variant IMAPS uses SSL/TLS to encrypt communication and thus protects the integrity of emails during transmission.

Today’s standard for email access: Especially in combination with SSL/TLS (IMAPS), it is the recommended protocol for modern email usage.

Classification in the OSI model:

• Application Layer (Layer 7)
  IMAP operates at the application layer, as it deals with managing emails and storing them on the server.