💌 SMTP vs IMAP — The Core Difference
| Feature | SMTP | IMAP |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Simple Mail Transfer Protocol | Internet Message Access Protocol |
| Main Function | Sends emails | Receives & manages emails |
| Direction | Outgoing (from you → others) | Incoming (from server → you) |
| Used By | Mail clients to send messages to a mail server or another server | Mail clients to read, sync, and organize messages stored on the mail server |
| Port Numbers | 25, 465 (SSL), 587 (TLS) | 143 (non-secure), 993 (SSL/TLS secure) |
| Where Emails Are Stored | On the recipient’s mail server (after sending) | On the mail server, synchronized across devices |
| Common Server Name Example | smtp.gmail.com |
imap.gmail.com |
📨 SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
-
Handles sending emails.
-
When you click Send, your email client uses SMTP to push your message to:
-
Your outgoing mail server.
-
Then that server delivers it to the recipient’s mail server.
-
📤 Analogy: SMTP is like the postman that carries your letter to the recipient’s post office.
đź“Ą IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
-
Handles receiving and syncing emails.
-
Keeps all emails stored on the server, so you can read them from any device.
-
Any changes (read, delete, move to folder) are synced everywhere.
📬 Analogy: IMAP is like reading your mail while it stays in the post office, instead of taking it home.
⚙️ How They Work Together
When you send and receive emails:
-
SMTP sends your outgoing messages.
-
IMAP retrieves your incoming messages and syncs them across your devices.
đź’ˇ In other words:
SMTP = Send Mail
IMAP = Read Mail