Final answer:
IMAP is a mail retrieval protocol developed as an alternative to POP. It provides more advanced features and allows users to manage their email messages on multiple devices.
Step-by-step explanation:
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
is a mail retrieval protocol that was developed as a more sophisticated alternative to
POP (Post Office Protocol)
. While POP is a simpler protocol that only allows users to download messages from a mail server to their device, IMAP provides more advanced features. For example, with IMAP, users can access and manage their email messages on multiple devices and keep them synchronized. IMAP is commonly used in email clients like Microsoft Outlook and Apple Mail.