← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Email protocols: SMTP and IMAP

SMTP sends email from a client to a mail server and between servers. IMAP (or POP3) lets a client read email stored on the server. Each protocol has a different job.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Networked Systems and Access Control — Module 55, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Network Communications — Module 57

Understanding Email protocols: SMTP and IMAP in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: SMTP carries the message from the client to the mail server, so it handles the sending job. Email has separate jobs (sending and reading), so different protocols are designed for each one. IMAP is a receiving protocol. The email stays on the server, so you can read it from many devices.

Common mistakes: Reading email stored on the server needs the incoming protocol, IMAP. The outgoing protocol, SMTP, only sends email. It should be READ inbox USING incoming. Sending email is the job of SMTP. IMAP is for reading email stored on the server. It should be protocol = 'SMTP'.

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Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 41–55) and word search (Modules 12–55).

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Learning

Duo

Which protocol is used to SEND an email from your device to a mail server?

IMAPSMTP

Matches

Use IMAP to send an email to another mail server

↓

IMAP does not send email. SMTP sends email from the client to the server and between servers.

Applying

Meanings

Term

SMTP and IMAP

Meaning

SMTP sends email from a client to a mail server and between servers. IMAP (or POP3) lets a client read email stored on the server. Each protocol has a different job.

Practice

SEND email USING SMTP TO mail server

Testing

Gaps

sends email to the mail server

Check Answer

Spots

3SEND email USING outgoing

4READ inbox USING outgoing

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Quick Questions

1. Which protocol is used to SEND an email from your device to a mail server?

A. SMTP ✓

B. IMAP

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) sends email from a client to a mail server. IMAP is used for reading email.

2. Which protocol lets your phone READ emails that are stored on a mail server?

A. SMTP

B. IMAP ✓

IMAP lets a client read email that stays stored on the server. SMTP is only for sending.

3. True or false: SMTP is also used to pass email from one mail server to another.

A. True ✓

B. False

SMTP sends email from a client to a server and also between mail servers, so the message can reach the receiver's server.

4. Mia writes an email to a friend and taps Send. Which protocol does her email app use first?

A. IMAP, to send it to her mail server

B. SMTP, to send it to her mail server ✓

Sending is SMTP's job. IMAP only reads mail already stored on a server.

5. Which is a protocol a client can use to read email stored on a server, besides IMAP?

A. POP3 ✓

B. SMTP

POP3 and IMAP both let a client receive and read email. SMTP is for sending.

Match the Pairs

SMTP → The protocol that sends email from your email app to a mail server, and from one mail server to another

IMAP → The protocol that lets your email app read messages that stay stored on the mail server

Sending an email from a client to a mail server needs a sending protocol → Client --SMTP--> Mail server

Reading email stored on a mail server needs a receiving protocol → Client <--IMAP-- Mail server

Use IMAP to send an email to another mail server → IMAP does not send email. SMTP sends email from the client to the server and between servers.

Use SMTP to read emails stored on the server → SMTP does not read email. IMAP (or POP3) lets the client read email stored on the server.

Key Term

SMTP and IMAP

SMTP sends email from a client to a mail server and between servers. IMAP (or POP3) lets a client read email stored on the server. Each protocol has a different job.

Fill in the Blanks

1. SMTP sends email to the mail server

Hint: Type the protocol used to send email from a client to a mail server.

2. readMail(server, IMAP)

Hint: Type the protocol that keeps email on the server so a client can read it from any device.

3. IF task = "send" THEN use SMTP ELSE use IMAP to read mail

Hint: Type the keyword that runs the other branch when the task is not sending.

4. mailServer = "mail.school.edu.au" client.send(mailServer, "SMTP")

Hint: Type the variable name, set on the first line, that holds the machine receiving the email from the client.

5. relay(server1, server2, SMTP)

Hint: Type the protocol that passes email between mail servers.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A SET outgoing TO SMTP

B SET incoming TO IMAP

C SEND email USING outgoing

D READ inbox USING outgoing

Line D — Reading email stored on the server needs the incoming protocol, IMAP. The outgoing protocol, SMTP, only sends email. It should be READ inbox USING incoming.

Question 2

A task = 'send email'

B protocol = 'IMAP'

C server = 'mail server'

Line B — Sending email is the job of SMTP. IMAP is for reading email stored on the server. It should be protocol = 'SMTP'.

Question 3

A IF button == 'Send':

B use_protocol('SMTP')

C target = 'recipient PC'

Line C — SMTP sends the email to a mail server, not straight to the recipient's device. The recipient reads it later from the server. It should be target = 'mail server'.

Question 4

A Step 1: Ava writes an email

B Step 2: Ava's phone uses IMAP

C Step 3: mail server relays it

D Step 4: Ben's phone uses IMAP

Line B — Ava is sending, so her phone uses SMTP to pass the email to the mail server. IMAP is only for reading. It should be Step 2: Ava's phone uses SMTP.

Question 5

A server_to_server = 'IMAP'

B client_reads = 'IMAP'

C client_sends = 'SMTP'

Line A — Mail servers pass email to each other using SMTP. IMAP is for clients reading email. It should be server_to_server = 'SMTP'.

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