Computer Network Basics Questions Medium
POP (Post Office Protocol) is a standard protocol used for receiving email messages from a mail server to a client device. It is one of the most commonly used email retrieval protocols.
POP works by allowing the client device to connect to the mail server and download the email messages to the device. Once the messages are downloaded, they are typically removed from the server, although some configurations allow for leaving a copy on the server.
There are different versions of POP, with the most widely used being POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3). POP3 uses TCP/IP as the underlying transport protocol and operates on port 110.
POP3 is a simple and lightweight protocol that provides basic email retrieval functionality. It allows users to access their email messages offline, as the messages are stored locally on the client device after being downloaded. However, POP3 does not support advanced features such as folder management or synchronization between multiple devices.
Overall, POP is a fundamental protocol in the realm of email communication, enabling users to retrieve their messages from a mail server to their client devices.