IMAP $($Internet Message Access Protocol$)$:

is a set of standards that define how email is to be processed between mail servers

is exactly the same as SMTP

copies an e$-$mail message from the client computer's hard disk, deletes it from the client, and stores it on the mail server

is exactly the same as POP

permits an e$-$mail message to remain stored on the mail server even after they have been read by a client computer