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What is POP or POP3?
POP or POP3, short for Post Office Protocol, is a protocol that allows users to access their email from a single computer.
POP works by connecting to an email server and downloading all email messages to the user's computer. Once the email message has been downloaded, those email messages will be deleted from the email server.
POP is different from IMAP, another email protocol. IMAP downloads email messages to the user's device, but email messages remain on the email server until the user deletes them.
The advantages of POP
- Uses little bandwidth because email messages are downloaded only once to a user's device.
- It helps users to manage their email messages efficiently because all email messages are stored on the user's device.
The disadvantages of POP
- Unable to access email from multiple devices
- Unable to synchronize email messages across devices
Difference between POP and IMAP
| Characteristic | POP | IMAP |
|---|---|---|
| Operation | Download all email messages to the user's device. | Download email messages to the user's device, but the email message will remain on the email server until the user deletes it. |
| Email access | Can access from a single device | Can be accessed from multiple devices |
| Email message synchronization | No | Yes |
| Bandwidth usage | Use a little bandwidth | Use more bandwidth |
| Managing email messages | Effective | Less effective |
Email protocol suitability depends on the needs of the user. If users want to access their email from multiple devices and synchronize email messages across devices, IMAP is a better option. If users want to save bandwidth and manage email messages efficiently, POP is a better choice.
