what is an imap account

IMAP stands for "Internet Message Access Protocol" and is an Internet standard protocol used by email clients to retrieve email messages from a mail server over a TCP/IP connection. It is a protocol for receiving emails and functions as the intermediary between the email server and email client. When users read an email using IMAP, they read them from the email service, and the messages are stored on a remote server. This means that users can access their email from different devices, anywhere in the world, and the messages are synchronized across all devices. IMAP enables users to organize messages into folders, flag messages for urgency or follow-up, and save draft messages on the server. Users can also have multiple email client applications that sync with the email server to consistently show which messages have been read or are still unread. Unlike POP3, IMAP only downloads a message when you click on it, and attachments arent automatically downloaded. IMAP is recommended when you need to check your emails from several different devices, such as a phone, laptop, and tablet.