POP (Post Office Protocol), commonly used in its third version — POP3, is an email protocol used to download emails from a mail server to a local device. After downloading, messages are usually removed from the server.
How does POP work?
When using POP, your email client (e.g., Outlook, Thunderbird, or other apps) connects to the server, downloads new emails to your device, and stores them locally. After that, the emails are deleted from the server (unless configured otherwise).
Key features of POP
- Offline access: Once downloaded, emails can be read without an internet connection.
- Emails are stored locally: This can save space on the server.
- Best for a single device: POP does not sync changes across multiple devices.
POP vs IMAP
| POP | IMAP |
|---|---|
| Emails are downloaded and usually deleted from the server | Emails remain on the server |
| Best for single-device access | Best for multiple-device access |
| No synchronization between devices | Full synchronization of folders and statuses |
When to use POP?
POP is ideal when:
- You use only one device to check your email
- You want to save server space
- You prefer storing emails locally
Conclusion
POP3 is a simple and efficient way to receive emails, but has limitations with multi-device usage. For Actiefhost services, IMAP is generally recommended unless you prefer full local storage.