Can imap rewrite stored mails

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a protocol used for retrieving and managing email messages on a remote email server. While IMAP is primarily designed for accessing and retrieving email messages, it does not have the capability to rewrite stored emails.

IMAP is a read-only protocol, meaning it only allows clients to access and retrieve email messages from the server, but it does not allow clients to modify or rewrite the messages on the server. Any changes made to email messages, such as rewriting or modifying the content, must be done on the client-side before sending the updated message back to the server.

However, there are some exceptions and workarounds:

  1. IMAP extensions: Some IMAP servers and clients support extensions that allow for more advanced features, such as modifying or rewriting email messages. For example, the IMAP4rev1 extension allows for the creation, deletion, and modification of email messages.
  2. Mail filtering and processing: Some email clients and servers offer mail filtering and processing capabilities, which can be used to rewrite or modify email messages before they are stored on the server. For example, some email clients allow you to set up filters that can modify or rewrite email messages based on specific criteria.
  3. Third-party tools and scripts: There are also third-party tools and scripts available that can be used to rewrite or modify email messages stored on an IMAP server. These tools typically use the IMAP protocol to connect to the server and modify the messages programmatically.

In summary, while IMAP itself does not have the capability to rewrite stored emails, there are some exceptions and workarounds available, such as IMAP extensions, mail filtering and processing, and third-party tools and scripts.