Difference between POP and IMAP protocols used for mail clients

POP and IMAP are protocols used at receiving end. POP is older than IMAP and has proved itself but IMAP being newer is also doing great.

POP is called as "POST OFFICE PROTOCOL", it lets you download mails from mail server to your computer or mobile, so that you can access your mail later with any program like outlook express, outlook 2003, windows mail etc... even when there is no internet connection because mails are downloaded to your system. but problem with it is that whenever it connects to server it downloads all mails and deletes contents from server.

IMAP is called as Internet Message Access Protocol(IMAP). It again download mails to your system, which can be accessed later even when you are not connected to net. Whenevr it connects it only reads all the mails on server or download header only, and download only mails which user wants to read.

Now the point comes of difference:
1. The main difference is IMAP keeps constant connection between mail server and mail clients(Computer/mobile). Which means if you perform any action on either system/client or Mail server, it appears on other side too.
Suppose you create a folder "personal" on client side then same folder will also appear on you mail server and vice versa.
Similarly if you move any message from Inbox to other folder in your mail server that will be reproduced in your mail client also. Overall you can say it has better SYNCING method over POP.

2. IMAP has feature of idle mode. Once you login to server you wouldn't be disconnected until you logout, which provides real time notification of mails. While with POP account it only reads mail, and disconnects so you will have to check your Inbox again for new mail.

3.With POP account only mails under ALL MAILs or INBOX are downloaded, not from spam or Deleted mails folder.

4. POP is better when you using for only one system, while IMAP will be better if having multiple systems to access mails.

So overall IMAP is the best way for configuring your mail accounts, because you won't have to worry about maintaining folders over separate places.

IMAP provides better way to access your mailbox from multiple devices, you can check new mails either from computer, mobile, or laptop...

So Finally I will suggest all of you to use IMAP account which is better, simpler, and easy to use for all.