What is the difference between SMTP and IMAP?

SMTP means Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. IMAP means Internet Access Message Protocol. SMTP is very effective when you are trying to forward messages to a mail client while IMAP can be very helpful when you would like to manage and retrieve emails from the server. A lot of times, SMTP and IMAP must work together so that servers and recipients will be able to send and get messages easily.

Usually, the email will be sent through your chosen email client and SMTP will send the message to the email address of the recipient. If the sending is a success, the IMAP will place the email to the recipient so that it can be checked.

SMTP is the acronym for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, and IMP stands for Internet Access Message Protocol. The main distinction between the two is the different roles they play. SMTP is the protocol for sending an e-mail. IMAP is a protocol that manages and retrieves e-mails. SMTP is utilized between servers, while IMAP is only used between client and server.

SMTP is the preferred protocol for outgoing e-mail, while IMAP is only one of the predominant protocols for e-mail retrieval. SMTP is used to send e-mails to a server, and it is used by servers to push the e-mail to another server.