---
title: "What is SMTP server or POP server?"  
description: "What is SMTP server or POP server?"  
author: "Deepak Aiyappa"  
published: 2018-10-08  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50297/what-is-smtp-server-or-pop-server  
category: "troubleshooting"  
tags: ["troubleshooting"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

#  What is SMTP server or POP server?

What is [SMTP server](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/116515/top-smtp-server-providers-for-reliable-email-sending) or [POP](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/11683/promotional-pop-ups-magento-2-extension) server?\
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## Answers

### Answer by Hitesh Vohra

**The two protocols that handle email traffic (send and receive, respectively) over the internet are POP and [SMTP](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12581/working-of-e-mail-with-how-smtp-is-used-in-e-mail-application).** \
The outgoing [**server**](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50292/what-is-the-difference-between-server-os-and-desktop-os) uses **SMTP ('Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)** to send and deliver messages from a client to a server through port 25. **POP ('Post Office Protocol')**, on the other hand, permits the user to pick up the message and save it to his own inbox: it's the incoming server. POP3, the most recent version of the Post Office Protocol, has been in use since 1996. \
**[Read More](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/51012/how-to-fix-microsoft-outlook-exchange-server-errors-cannot-send-emails-on-iphone-6s-plus)**


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50297/what-is-smtp-server-or-pop-server

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