In this tutorial, you’ll learn most commonly used Email protocols and port numbers such as POP3, IMAP and SMTP on the Internet for email services.
Email servers across the Internet use protocols for sending and retrieving emails. Every email service listens to a specific port to deliver services.
Let's learn about these basic Email services. We'll teach you basics about POP3, IMAP, and SMTP.
Are you ready to jump into each service and it’s specific port numbers?
What are POP3 and Default POP3 Port Numbers?
Post Office Protocol (POP) is used for retrieving emails from a remote email server. It’s useful to download email messages from email server to your local email client for offline viewing. POP with version 3 ( POP3) is the new standard commonly used on the Internet.
By default, POP3 deletes email on the server after downloading to your local email client.
Whenever you receive an email message, it will be stored on the server. So, you can configure an email client using POP3 to download email messages to your computer or mobile device. You can leave one copy message on the server but it’s just another copy.
Here are the list of most common POP3 clients:
While configuring a POP3 client, you need to provide POP3 server name or IP address, POP3 Port Number and login credentials.
POP3 port numbers
Default POP Port number : 110
POP3 port number with SSL/TLS : 995
POP3 Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of POP:
- Easy and simple to implement.
- Your emails will be downloaded to your computer.
- It saves server space and resources.
Disadvantages of POP:
- Difficult to synchronise between multiple devices.
- Doesn't support folder structures
- If your computer corrupts, you may loose downloaded emails.
What are IMAP and default IMAP Port Numbers?
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is a protocol used by email clients to retrieve emails from an email server.
IMAP based email clients leaves messages on the server unless user deletes them.
All the new generation or web-based email services like Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo Mail supports IMAP service.
While configuring IMAP client, you need to provide IMAP4 server name or IP address, IMAP4 Port Number and login credentials.
IMAP port number
Default IMAP port number : 143
IMAP over SSL (IMAPS) port number : 993
IMAP Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of IMAP:
- Your emails will be stored on the server.
- Easy synchronisation between multiple devices.
Disadvantages of IMAP:
- Takes up a lot of server space
- Requires server resource to synchronize emails between devices
What are SMTP and default SMTP Port Numbers?
Simple Mail Transfer Service (SMTP) is used for sending emails from one email server to another server. SMTP acts as a mail exchange for you and your email recipient.
If you want to connect SMTP service to send an email, you need to provide an SMTP IP address, Port number and login credentials.
SMTP Port Numbers
The default SMTP port number is : 25
Secondary SMTP port number : 26
SMTP over SSL/TLS port number: 465
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