# 11.8 `imaplib` -- IMAP4 protocol client

This module defines a class, `IMAP4`, which encapsulates a connection to an IMAP4 server and implements the IMAP4rev1 client protocol as defined in RFC 2060. It is backward compatible with IMAP4 (RFC 1730) servers, but note that the "`STATUS`" command is not supported in IMAP4.

A single class is provided by the `imaplib` module:

`IMAP4` ([host[, port]])
  This class implements the actual IMAP4 protocol. The connection is created and protocol version (IMAP4 or IMAP4rev1) is determined when the instance is initialized. If host is not specified, `''` (the local host) is used. If port is omitted, the standard IMAP4 port (143) is used.

Two exceptions are defined as attributes of the `IMAP4` class:

`IMAP4.error`
  Exception raised on any errors. The reason for the exception is passed to the constructor as a string.

`IMAP4.abort`
  IMAP4 server errors cause this exception to be raised. This is a sub-class of `IMAP4.error`. Note that closing the instance and instantiating a new one will usually allow recovery from this exception.

`IMAP4.readonly`
  This exception is raised when a writable mailbox has its status changed by the server. This is a sub-class of `IMAP4.error`. Some other client now has write permission, and the mailbox will need to be re-opened to re-obtain write permission.

The following utility functions are defined:

`Internaldate2tuple` (datestr)
  Converts an IMAP4 INTERNALDATE string to Coordinated Universal Time. Returns a `time` module tuple.

`Int2AP` (num)
  Converts an integer into a string representation using characters from the set [`A` .. `P`].

`ParseFlags` (flagstr)
  Converts an IMAP4 "`FLAGS`" response to a tuple of individual flags.

`Time2Internaldate` (date_time)
  Converts a `time` module tuple to an IMAP4 "`INTERNALDATE`" representation. Returns a string in the form: `"DD-Mmm-YYYY HH:MM:SS +HHMM"` (including double-quotes).

Note that IMAP4 message numbers change as the mailbox changes, so it is highly advisable to use UIDs instead, with the UID command.

At the end of the module, there is a test section that contains a more extensive example of usage.

See Also:

Documents describing the protocol, and sources and binaries for servers implementing it, can all be found at the University of Washington's IMAP Information Center (http://www.cac.washington.edu/imap/).

Subsections

- 11.8.1 IMAP4 Objects
- 11.8.2 IMAP4 Example