POP3

POP3, short for Post Office Protocol version 3, is an email retrieval protocol used by email clients to fetch emails from a mail server. With POP3, emails are downloaded from the server to the user’s device and typically deleted from the server, although there are settings to keep copies on the server. POP3 is widely supported by email clients and is commonly used for personal email accounts. However, it has limitations such as lack of synchronization between multiple devices and the inability to access emails when offline. Despite these limitations, POP3 remains a popular choice for users who prefer to manage their emails locally on their devices.

Think of POP3 as a digital mailbox. Just as a mailbox stores and retrieves physical mail, POP3 retrieves and stores digital emails on your device, giving you access to your messages from your email client.