Difference between SMTP and IMAP

Hello, readers welcome to new post. We will learn Difference between SMTP and IMAP. These two modules are certified TCP/IP protocols used for get and sending an email. These protocols are considered as the necessary component to knowing about the currently used requirements.

SMTP is used to transmit the message from the sending point to an email server and in a result carry the message among the 2 servers. While IMAP is required to do the retrieving the messages saved in the email services. In this post, we will discuss different points to find their basic differences.

Difference between SMTP and IMAP

What is SMTP

• The full form of SMTP is a simple mail transfer protocol used as a TCP protocol for email sending.

• It is mostly employed by the users to send emails to servers to make communication among the servers.
• Two common types of SMTP servers first one is receivers and second one is relays.
• The relay is used to accept emails from the users’ end and transmit to the receiver end and the receiver then sends to the mailbox after getting an email from the relay servers

SMTP Features

• it used for the configuration of the email gateway
• It offers different conditions to send the email that consist of users’ variations of the email address
• it also helps to find the errors in the messages and resolve them
• It is used for Mail relaying that has email routing from one SMTP server to another

Working of SMTP

• These steps are involved in the working of SMTP

• SMTP users will link with the SMTP server in the first step
• Then email is sent through the use of this link
• Then users and server end the connection
• There are text-based commands like Hello. MAIL FROM  RCPT are used by SMTP users to transmit messages at the SMTP servers
• SMTP serves to give rely to received messages in the numeric coding like 250, 354, etc

SMTP Advantages

• If any error occurs in communication this module finds that error and explains it
• its condition is easy to handle
• It ensures the dependability of sending email messages
• If messages are not delivered SMTP server will again try to send it until the results get

SMTP Disadvantages

• It has limitations.
• This server will reject larger messages.
• It is not a secure method

What Is IMAP?

• The full form of IMAP is the internet messages access protocol used to receive the email sent by the server
• It helps to permit access to the email through numerous locations at a single time.
• It retains the email at the server when sending completion.
• it also does not download the complete  email till the receiver opens it
• Nowadays the 4th module of IMAP is used and it is the basic protocol used for email sending

How Does IMAP Work

• By using the IMAP protocol users link with the server get new messages and also save the messages in the cache as temporary files

• At the start data, sender info, and subject are downloaded from the server.
• The data will download when messages open. Therefore it is certain to get the email’s data not doing the download of connected files.
• If an email is updated, deleted or status changed from unread to read these changes will be shown on the server.

IMAP Advantages

• Its local storage is limited
• it is also compatible with the keyboard-based mail
• It does not get access through numerous services at the same instant
• it does not get affected by the damages in the machines since mail is saved in the server

Advantages of IMAP

• Not affected by local machine failures since the emails are stored in the server.
• Can be accessed through multiple devices at the same time.
• It supports keyboard-based email searching.
• Local storage use is minimal.

Disadvantages of IMAP

• For more email stores you must need a larger storage mailbox which makes it expensive
• For email use, there must be an internet connection

SMTP VS IMAP

• For message retrieving IMAP is used and SMTP is used for data sending
• Users and server communication is done through IMAP and SMTP works among servers for data communication
• IMAP permits users to configure emails in the servers and SMTP permits to configure emails on the user’s storage

IMAP

• IMAP full form is an internet message access protocol
• It is made in 1986 by Mark Crispin
• It is used for retrieving emails.
• It works between the client and server for communication.
• The port numbers for IMPA are 143 and 993 for strong connections.
• It operated as a message transfer agent for users and servers.
• It has different flexible options for devices.

SMTP

• Its full form is simple mail transfer protocol
• It is made in 1982 by RFC821.
• It is used for sending emails from unknown mail servers to another server.
• It works between servers to send data.
• 25, 465 and 587 ports are used for securing connections
• It operated for message transfer module for servers.

That is all about the difference between SMTP and IMAP all parameters are explained. if you have any further queries ask in the comments.