POP

Email Glossary Definition

Definition: POP (Post Office Protocol) defines an email server and a way to retrieve mail from it. Incoming messages are stored at a POP server until the user logs in and downloads the messages to their computer. The current version is POP3.

While SMTP is used to transfer email messages from server to server, POP is used to collect mail with an email client from a server.

Also Known As: POP3, Post Office Protocol

• POP (Post Office Protocol) Basics - How Your Email Program Gets the Mail
• Email Glossary

• SMTP
• IMAP
• Email Client
• Email Server

• RFC 1939: Post Office Protocol - Version 3

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