Simply put, POP is the "old way," and IMAP is the "new way."
IMAP
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The new method, Internet Messaging Access Protocol |
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Best if you use many different computers to check your email |
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Constant connection with the server |
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You are limited by your mailbox size quota for how many messages you keep, although you can archive old messages and save them onto your computer manually |
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New message headers are downloaded so you see all your mail faster, the message you want to read is not downloaded to your computer until you click on it |
POP
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The old method, Post Office Protocol |
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Best if you use only one computer to check email |
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Allows you to keep a large backlog of email messages only limited by the size of your computer |
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New messages are downloaded in their entirety, you have to wait for the message to download ("pops" the mail to the computer) |
For more information the differences between POP and IMAP, and how to tell which system you are using, please refer to the ITS Help Desk Website.
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