Email protocols: SMTP and IMAP

Tip: Choose Save as PDF in the print dialog to download. Use A4 paper size.

Email protocols: SMTP and IMAP

Name:
Date:
Class:
A

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which protocol is used to SEND an email from your device to a mail server?
A SMTP
B IMAP
2. Which protocol lets your phone READ emails that are stored on a mail server?
A SMTP
B IMAP
3. True or false: SMTP is also used to pass email from one mail server to another.
A True
B False
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
5. Which is a protocol a client can use to read email stored on a server, besides IMAP?
A POP3
B SMTP
B

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left columnRight column
1SMTP AThe protocol that lets your email app read messages that stay stored on the mail server
2IMAP BThe protocol that sends email from your email app to a mail server, and from one mail server to another
3Sending an email from a client to a mail server needs a sending protocol CClient <--IMAP-- Mail server
4Reading email stored on a mail server needs a receiving protocol DSMTP does not read email. IMAP (or POP3) lets the client read email stored on the server.
5Use IMAP to send an email to another mail server EIMAP does not send email. SMTP sends email from the client to the server and between servers.
6Use SMTP to read emails stored on the server FClient --SMTP--> Mail server
C

Definitions

SMTP and IMAP
D

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

1.
____ sends email to the mail server
2.
readMail(server, ____)
3.
IF task = "send" THEN use SMTP ____ use IMAP to read mail
4.
mailServer = "mail.school.edu.au" client.send(__________, "SMTP")
5.
relay(server1, server2, ____)
E

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1
A SET outgoing TO SMTP
B SET incoming TO IMAP
C SEND email USING outgoing
D READ inbox USING outgoing
Question 2
A task = 'send email'
B protocol = 'IMAP'
C server = 'mail server'
Question 3
A IF button == 'Send':
B use_protocol('SMTP')
C target = 'recipient PC'
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
Question 5
A server_to_server = 'IMAP'
B client_reads = 'IMAP'
C client_sends = 'SMTP'

Answer Key

Email protocols: SMTP and IMAP
Section A: Quick Questions
Q1
A — SMTP
Q2
B — IMAP
Q3
A — True
Q4
B — SMTP, to send it to her mail server
Q5
A — POP3
Section B: Match the Pairs
Q1
SMTP → The protocol that sends email from your email app to a mail server, and from one mail server to another
Q2
IMAP → The protocol that lets your email app read messages that stay stored on the mail server
Q3
Sending an email from a client to a mail server needs a sending protocol → Client --SMTP--> Mail server
Q4
Reading email stored on a mail server needs a receiving protocol → Client <--IMAP-- Mail server
Q5
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.
Q6
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.
Section C: Definitions
Q1
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.
Section D: Fill in the Blanks
Q1
SMTP sends email to the mail server
Q2
readMail(server, IMAP)
Q3
IF task = "send" THEN use SMTP ELSE use IMAP to read mail
Q4
mailServer = "mail.school.edu.au" client.send(mailServer, "SMTP")
Q5
relay(server1, server2, SMTP)
Section E: Spot the Error
Q1
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.
Q2
B — Sending email is the job of SMTP. IMAP is for reading email stored on the server. It should be protocol = 'SMTP'.
Q3
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'.
Q4
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.
Q5
A — Mail servers pass email to each other using SMTP. IMAP is for clients reading email. It should be server_to_server = 'SMTP'.