A standard email protocol that allows users to access and manage their email messages on a mail server from multiple devices. Unlike the POP protocol, which downloads emails to a single device and removes them from the server, IMAP keeps the emails on the server, enabling synchronization across different devices. With IMAP, users can read, organize, and store their emails in folders on the server, ensuring that any changes made on one device are reflected on all others. This protocol is particularly useful for users who need to access their email from various locations and devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, maintaining consistency and availability of their email communications.