9 min read
What is an email client? How email clients work
An email client is the app you read and send mail in, apart from the service that holds your mailbox. How clients find servers, sync, send and guard privacy.
BenjaminEmail clientsProtocols
How mail moves and syncs: IMAP, SMTP and JMAP, how each protocol works and where it fits.
BenjaminEmail clients10 min read
What is IMAP? How IMAP works: ports, sync and security
IMAP is how mail apps read and organise mail that stays on the server, in sync on every device. How it works, which port to use and how it compares with POP3.
ArtaProtocols6 min read
What is JMAP? The JSON email protocol, explained
JMAP is the IETF standard for email, contacts and calendars over JSON and HTTPS. How it works, how it differs from IMAP, and who supports it in 2026.
ArtaDevelopers10 min read
What is SMTP? How it works, from ports to reply codes
SMTP is the protocol that carries email from your app to your provider and between mail servers. How it works, which port to use and what each reply means.
BenjaminProtocolsTry it yourself
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