# 12.18 `mailbox` -- Read various mailbox formats

This module defines a number of classes that allow easy and uniform access to mail messages in a (Unix) mailbox.

`UnixMailbox` (fp)
  Access a classic Unix-style mailbox, where all messages are contained in a single file and separated by ``From name time'' lines. The file object fp points to the mailbox file.

`MmdfMailbox` (fp)
  Access an MMDF-style mailbox, where all messages are contained in a single file and separated by lines consisting of 4 control-A characters. The file object fp points to the mailbox file.

`MHMailbox` (dirname)
  Access an MH mailbox, a directory with each message in a separate file with a numeric name. The name of the mailbox directory is passed in dirname.

`Maildir` (dirname)
  Access a Qmail mail directory. All new and current mail for the mailbox specified by dirname is made available.

`BabylMailbox` (fp)
  Access a Babyl mailbox, which is similar to an MMDF mailbox. Mail messages start with a line containing only `'*** EOOH ***'` and end with a line containing only `'\037\014'`.

Subsections

- 12.18.1 Mailbox Objects