What Is a POP3 Server Connection?
Post Office Protocol version 3, also known as POP3, allows computers to establish connections with email servers so that users can download their messages directly to their home or work computers without having to use a browser-based mail client.
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Function
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The POP3 protocol allows email programs such as Outlook or Thunderbird to connect with the server (computer) that contains the user's email messages. Using this protocol, the program then downloads the messages to the user's local computer. The connection that occurs between the email program (local computer) and the remote server is a POP3 connection.
Benefits
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POP3 facilitates a connection that allows users to use the email program of their choice. Additionally, the user is able to download a copy of all of her emails to her local computer or a portable drive and access these messages from any computer. Finally, this standard connection allows email servers and local computers to communicate effectively when exchanging data.
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Considerations
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The POP3 protocol only allows for users to download messages from the server. In order to use an email program to send messages from the email server, the user must establish a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) connection. The server addresses for POP3 and SMTP may be the same (for example, "mail.domain.com") or they may be different.
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