SMTP vs IMAP

* SMTP(Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

- protocol for sending email whether it is from the client or in between servers for propagating the email towards the intended destination

- used by the client to send emails to a server but it is also used by servers to push the email to another server

- e.g. Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail

* IMAP

- protocol that deals with managing and retrieving email messages from the server

- used only between the client who is retrieving the email and the server where the emails are stored

* references

- http://www.jscape.com/blog/smtp-vs-imap-vs-pop3-difference

- http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/protocols-formats/difference-between-smtp-and-imap/