| Python 3.6.5 Documentation > "imaplib" — IMAP4 protocol client
"imaplib" — IMAP4 protocol client
*********************************
**Source code:** Lib/imaplib.py
======================================================================
This module defines three classes, "IMAP4", "IMAP4_SSL" and
"IMAP4_stream", which encapsulate a connection to an IMAP4 server and
implement a large subset of 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.
Three classes are provided by the "imaplib" module, "IMAP4" is the
base class:
class imaplib.IMAP4(host='', port=IMAP4_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.
The "IMAP4" class supports the "with" statement. When used like
this, the IMAP4 "LOGOUT" command is issued automatically when the
"with" statement exits. E.g.:
>>> from imaplib import IMAP4
>>> with IMAP4("domain.org") as M:
... M.noop()
...
('OK', [b'Nothing Accomplished. d25if65hy903weo.87'])
Changed in version 3.5: Support for the "with" statement was added.
Three exceptions are defined as attributes of the "IMAP4" class:
exception IMAP4.error
Exception raised on any errors. The reason for the exception is
passed to the constructor as a string.
exception 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.
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.
There’s also a subclass for secure connections:
class imaplib.IMAP4_SSL(host='', port=IMAP4_SSL_PORT, keyfile=None, certfile=None, ssl_context=None)
This is a subclass derived from "IMAP4" that connects over an SSL
encrypted socket (to use this class you need a socket module that
was compiled with SSL support). If *host* is not specified, "''"
(the local host) is used. If *port* is omitted, the standard IMAP4
-over-SSL port (993) is used. *ssl_context* is a "ssl.SSLContext"
object which allows bundling SSL configuration options,
certificates and private keys into a single (potentially long-
lived) structure. Please read Security considerations for best
practices.
*keyfile* and *certfile* are a legacy alternative to *ssl_context*
- they can point to PEM-formatted private key and certificate chain
files for the SSL connection. Note that the *keyfile*/*certfile*
parameters are mutually exclusive with *ssl_context*, a
"ValueError" is raised if *keyfile*/*certfile* is provided along
with *ssl_context*.
Changed in version 3.3: *ssl_context* parameter added.
Changed in version 3.4: The class now supports hostname check with
"ssl.SSLContext.check_hostname" and *Server Name Indication* (see
"ssl.HAS_SNI").
Deprecated since version 3.6: *keyfile* and *certfile* are
deprecated in favor of *ssl_context*. Please use
"ssl.SSLContext.load_cert_chain()" instead, or let
"ssl.create_default_context()" select the system’s trusted CA
certificates for you.
The second subclass allows for connections created by a child process:
class imaplib.IMAP4_stream(command)
This is a subclass derived from "IMAP4" that connects to the
"stdin/stdout" file descriptors created by passing *command* to
"subprocess.Popen()".
The following utility functions are defined:
imaplib.Internaldate2tuple(datestr)
Parse an IMAP4 "INTERNALDATE" string and return corresponding local
time. The return value is a "time.struct_time" tuple or "None" if
the string has wrong format.
imaplib.Int2AP(num)
Converts an integer into a string representation using characters
from the set ["A" .. "P"].
imaplib.ParseFlags(flagstr)
Converts an IMAP4 "FLAGS" response to a tuple of individual flags.
imaplib.Time2Internaldate(date_time)
Convert *date_time* to an IMAP4 "INTERNALDATE" representation. The
return value is a string in the form: ""DD-Mmm-YYYY HH:MM:SS
+HHMM"" (including double-quotes). The *date_time* argument can be
a number (int or float) representing seconds since epoch (as
returned by "time.time()"), a 9-tuple representing local time an
instance of "time.struct_time" (as returned by "time.localtime()"),
an aware instance of "datetime.datetime", or a double-quoted
string. In the last case, it is assumed to already be in the
correct format.
Note that IMAP4 message numbers change as the mailbox changes; in
particular, after an "EXPUNGE" command performs deletions the
remaining messages are renumbered. 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*
(https://www.washington.edu/imap/).
IMAP4 Objects
=============
All IMAP4rev1 commands are represented by methods of the same name,
either upper-case or lower-case.
All arguments to commands are converted to strings, except for
"AUTHENTICATE", and the last argument to "APPEND" which is passed as
an IMAP4 literal. If necessary (the string contains IMAP4 protocol-
sensitive characters and isn’t enclosed with either parentheses or
double quotes) each string is quoted. However, the *password* argument
to the "LOGIN" command is always quoted. If you want to avoid having
an argument string quoted (eg: the *flags* argument to "STORE") then
enclose the string in parentheses (eg: "r'(\Deleted)'").
Each command returns a tuple: "(type, [data, ...])" where *type* is
usually "'OK'" or "'NO'", and *data* is either the text from the
command response, or mandated results from the command. Each *data* is
either a string, or a tuple. If a tuple, then the first part is the
header of the response, and the second part contains the data (ie:
‘literal’ value).
The *message_set* options to commands below is a string specifying one
or more messages to be acted upon. It may be a simple message number
("'1'"), a range of message numbers ("'2:4'"), or a group of non-
contiguous ranges separated by commas ("'1:3,6:9'"). A range can
contain an asterisk to indicate an infinite upper bound ("'3:*'").
An "IMAP4" instance has the following methods:
IMAP4.append(mailbox, flags, date_time, message)
Append *message* to named mailbox.
IMAP4.authenticate(mechanism, authobject)
Authenticate command — requires response processing.
*mechanism* specifies which authentication mechanism is to be used
- it should appear in the instance variable "capabilities" in the
form "AUTH=mechanism".
*authobject* must be a callable object:
data = authobject(response)
It will be called to process server continuation responses; the
*response* argument it is passed will be "bytes". It should return
"bytes" *data* that will be base64 encoded and sent to the server.
It should return "None" if the client abort response "*" should be
sent instead.
Changed in version 3.5: string usernames and passwords are now
encoded to "utf-8" instead of being limited to ASCII.
IMAP4.check()
Checkpoint mailbox on server.
IMAP4.close()
Close currently selected mailbox. Deleted messages are removed from
writable mailbox. This is the recommended command before "LOGOUT".
IMAP4.copy(message_set, new_mailbox)
Copy *message_set* messages onto end of *new_mailbox*.
IMAP4.create(mailbox)
Create new mailbox named *mailbox*.
IMAP4.delete(mailbox)
Delete old mailbox named *mailbox*.
IMAP4.deleteacl(mailbox, who)
Delete the ACLs (remove any rights) set for who on mailbox.
IMAP4.enable(capability)
Enable *capability* (see **RFC 5161**). Most capabilities do not
need to be enabled. Currently only the "UTF8=ACCEPT" capability is
supported (see **RFC 6855**).
New in version 3.5: The "enable()" method itself, and **RFC 6855**
support.
IMAP4.expunge()
Permanently remove deleted items from selected mailbox. Generates
an "EXPUNGE" response for each deleted message. Returned data
contains a list of "EXPUNGE" message numbers in order received.
IMAP4.fetch(message_set, message_parts)
Fetch (parts of) messages. *message_parts* should be a string of
message part names enclosed within parentheses, eg: ""(UID
BODY[TEXT])"". Returned data are tuples of message part envelope
and data.
IMAP4.getacl(mailbox)
Get the "ACL"s for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is
supported by the "Cyrus" server.
IMAP4.getannotation(mailbox, entry, attribute)
Retrieve the specified "ANNOTATION"s for *mailbox*. The method is
non-standard, but is supported by the "Cyrus" server.
IMAP4.getquota(root)
Get the "quota" *root*’s resource usage and limits. This method is
part of the IMAP4 QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087.
IMAP4.getquotaroot(mailbox)
Get the list of "quota" "roots" for the named *mailbox*. This
method is part of the IMAP4 QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087.
IMAP4.list([directory[, pattern]])
List mailbox names in *directory* matching *pattern*. *directory*
defaults to the top-level mail folder, and *pattern* defaults to
match anything. Returned data contains a list of "LIST" responses.
IMAP4.login(user, password)
Identify the client using a plaintext password. The *password* will
be quoted.
IMAP4.login_cram_md5(user, password)
Force use of "CRAM-MD5" authentication when identifying the client
to protect the password. Will only work if the server "CAPABILITY"
response includes the phrase "AUTH=CRAM-MD5".
IMAP4.logout()
Shutdown connection to server. Returns server "BYE" response.
IMAP4.lsub(directory='""', pattern='*')
List subscribed mailbox names in directory matching pattern.
*directory* defaults to the top level directory and *pattern*
defaults to match any mailbox. Returned data are tuples of message
part envelope and data.
IMAP4.myrights(mailbox)
Show my ACLs for a mailbox (i.e. the rights that I have on
mailbox).
IMAP4.namespace()
Returns IMAP namespaces as defined in RFC2342.
IMAP4.noop()
Send "NOOP" to server.
IMAP4.open(host, port)
Opens socket to *port* at *host*. This method is implicitly called
by the "IMAP4" constructor. The connection objects established by
this method will be used in the "IMAP4.read()", "IMAP4.readline()",
"IMAP4.send()", and "IMAP4.shutdown()" methods. You may override
this method.
IMAP4.partial(message_num, message_part, start, length)
Fetch truncated part of a message. Returned data is a tuple of
message part envelope and data.
IMAP4.proxyauth(user)
Assume authentication as *user*. Allows an authorised administrator
to proxy into any user’s mailbox.
IMAP4.read(size)
Reads *size* bytes from the remote server. You may override this
method.
IMAP4.readline()
Reads one line from the remote server. You may override this
method.
IMAP4.recent()
Prompt server for an update. Returned data is "None" if no new
messages, else value of "RECENT" response.
IMAP4.rename(oldmailbox, newmailbox)
Rename mailbox named *oldmailbox* to *newmailbox*.
IMAP4.response(code)
Return data for response *code* if received, or "None". Returns the
given code, instead of the usual type.
IMAP4.search(charset, criterion[, ...])
Search mailbox for matching messages. *charset* may be "None", in
which case no "CHARSET" will be specified in the request to the
server. The IMAP protocol requires that at least one criterion be
specified; an exception will be raised when the server returns an
error. *charset* must be "None" if the "UTF8=ACCEPT" capability
was enabled using the "enable()" command.
Example:
# M is a connected IMAP4 instance...
typ, msgnums = M.search(None, 'FROM', '"LDJ"')
# or:
typ, msgnums = M.search(None, '(FROM "LDJ")')
IMAP4.select(mailbox='INBOX', readonly=False)
Select a mailbox. Returned data is the count of messages in
*mailbox* ("EXISTS" response). The default *mailbox* is "'INBOX'".
If the *readonly* flag is set, modifications to the mailbox are not
allowed.
IMAP4.send(data)
Sends "data" to the remote server. You may override this method.
IMAP4.setacl(mailbox, who, what)
Set an "ACL" for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is
supported by the "Cyrus" server.
IMAP4.setannotation(mailbox, entry, attribute[, ...])
Set "ANNOTATION"s for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is
supported by the "Cyrus" server.
IMAP4.setquota(root, limits)
Set the "quota" *root*’s resource *limits*. This method is part of
the IMAP4 QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087.
IMAP4.shutdown()
Close connection established in "open". This method is implicitly
called by "IMAP4.logout()". You may override this method.
IMAP4.socket()
Returns socket instance used to connect to server.
IMAP4.sort(sort_criteria, charset, search_criterion[, ...])
The "sort" command is a variant of "search" with sorting semantics
for the results. Returned data contains a space separated list of
matching message numbers.
Sort has two arguments before the *search_criterion* argument(s); a
parenthesized list of *sort_criteria*, and the searching *charset*.
Note that unlike "search", the searching *charset* argument is
mandatory. There is also a "uid sort" command which corresponds to
"sort" the way that "uid search" corresponds to "search". The
"sort" command first searches the mailbox for messages that match
the given searching criteria using the charset argument for the
interpretation of strings in the searching criteria. It then
returns the numbers of matching messages.
This is an "IMAP4rev1" extension command.
IMAP4.starttls(ssl_context=None)
Send a "STARTTLS" command. The *ssl_context* argument is optional
and should be a "ssl.SSLContext" object. This will enable
encryption on the IMAP connection. Please read Security
considerations for best practices.
New in version 3.2.
Changed in version 3.4: The method now supports hostname check with
"ssl.SSLContext.check_hostname" and *Server Name Indication* (see
"ssl.HAS_SNI").
IMAP4.status(mailbox, names)
Request named status conditions for *mailbox*.
IMAP4.store(message_set, command, flag_list)
Alters flag dispositions for messages in mailbox. *command* is
specified by section 6.4.6 of **RFC 2060** as being one of “FLAGS”,
“+FLAGS”, or “-FLAGS”, optionally with a suffix of “.SILENT”.
For example, to set the delete flag on all messages:
typ, data = M.search(None, 'ALL')
for num in data[0].split():
M.store(num, '+FLAGS', '\\Deleted')
M.expunge()
Note: Creating flags containing ‘]’ (for example: “[test]”)
violates **RFC 3501** (the IMAP protocol). However, imaplib has
historically allowed creation of such tags, and popular IMAP
servers, such as Gmail, accept and produce such flags. There are
non-Python programs which also create such tags. Although it is
an RFC violation and IMAP clients and servers are supposed to be
strict, imaplib nonetheless continues to allow such tags to be
created for backward compatibility reasons, and as of python 3.6,
handles them if they are sent from the server, since this
improves real-world compatibility.
IMAP4.subscribe(mailbox)
Subscribe to new mailbox.
IMAP4.thread(threading_algorithm, charset, search_criterion[, ...])
The "thread" command is a variant of "search" with threading
semantics for the results. Returned data contains a space
separated list of thread members.
Thread members consist of zero or more messages numbers, delimited
by spaces, indicating successive parent and child.
Thread has two arguments before the *search_criterion* argument(s);
a *threading_algorithm*, and the searching *charset*. Note that
unlike "search", the searching *charset* argument is mandatory.
There is also a "uid thread" command which corresponds to "thread"
the way that "uid search" corresponds to "search". The "thread"
command first searches the mailbox for messages that match the
given searching criteria using the charset argument for the
interpretation of strings in the searching criteria. It then
returns the matching messages threaded according to the specified
threading algorithm.
This is an "IMAP4rev1" extension command.
IMAP4.uid(command, arg[, ...])
Execute command args with messages identified by UID, rather than
message number. Returns response appropriate to command. At least
one argument must be supplied; if none are provided, the server
will return an error and an exception will be raised.
IMAP4.unsubscribe(mailbox)
Unsubscribe from old mailbox.
IMAP4.xatom(name[, ...])
Allow simple extension commands notified by server in "CAPABILITY"
response.
The following attributes are defined on instances of "IMAP4":
IMAP4.PROTOCOL_VERSION
The most recent supported protocol in the "CAPABILITY" response
from the server.
IMAP4.debug
Integer value to control debugging output. The initialize value is
taken from the module variable "Debug". Values greater than three
trace each command.
IMAP4.utf8_enabled
Boolean value that is normally "False", but is set to "True" if an
"enable()" command is successfully issued for the "UTF8=ACCEPT"
capability.
New in version 3.5.
IMAP4 Example
=============
Here is a minimal example (without error checking) that opens a
mailbox and retrieves and prints all messages:
import getpass, imaplib
M = imaplib.IMAP4()
M.login(getpass.getuser(), getpass.getpass())
M.select()
typ, data = M.search(None, 'ALL')
for num in data[0].split():
typ, data = M.fetch(num, '(RFC822)')
print('Message %s\n%s\n' % (num, data[0][1]))
M.close()
M.logout()
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