IMAP.

IMAP is useful to understand when several applications access the same mailbox. Folders and message changes can be reflected across connected devices, which makes coordinated use possible but also gives everyday actions wider consequences. A move or deletion should behave as you expect before you rely on it for important correspondence.

The IMAP mailbox overview introduces the shared mailbox model. The guide to folders, devices, and deletion examines common points of confusion, including special folders and local availability. Use the articles when adding a phone, replacing a desktop client, or reconciling different views of an account.

Test changes in both directions with harmless messages. Check sent mail, drafts, archive, and trash individually, and investigate similarly named folders before reorganizing a large collection. Also establish which messages and attachments are downloaded for offline access. A synchronized view of the server and a separately recoverable archive answer different needs in your overall email plan.