post office protocol

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Post Office Protocol
POP server

   <messaging, protocol> (POP) A {protocol} designed to allow
   single-user computers to retrieve {electronic mail} from a POP
   {server} via {TCP/IP}.  The default {port} is 110.

   The POP server might be a computer with a permanent {Internet}
   connection whereas its clients might only connect to it
   occasionally, e.g. by {modem}.

   There are (in 1994) three versions: POP, POP2, and {POP3}.
   Later versions are NOT compatible with earlier ones.

   [Details?]

   (2007-03-07)