RFC 2177 IMAP4 IDLE command June 1997 Example: C: A001 SELECT INBOX S: * FLAGS (Deleted Seen) S: * 3 EXISTS S: * 0 RECENT S: * OK [UIDVALIDITY 1] S: A001 OK SELECT completed C: A002 IDLE S: + idling ...time passes; new mail arrives... S: * 4 EXISTS C: DONE S: A002 OK IDLE terminated ...another client expunges message 2 now... C: A003 FETCH 4 ALL S: * 4 FETCH (...) S: A003 OK FETCH completed C: A004 IDLE S: * 2 EXPUNGE S: * 3 EXISTS S: + idling ...time passes; another client expunges message 3... S: * 3 EXPUNGE S: * 2 EXISTS ...time passes; new mail arrives... S: * 3 EXISTS C: DONE S: A004 OK IDLE terminated C: A005 FETCH 3 ALL S: * 3 FETCH (...) S: A005 OK FETCH completed C: A006 IDLE 4. Formal Syntax The following syntax specification uses the augmented Backus-Naur Form (BNF) notation as specified in [RFC-822] as modified by [IMAP4]. Non-terminals referenced but not defined below are as defined by [IMAP4]. command_auth ::= append / create / delete / examine / list / lsub / rename / select / status / subscribe / unsubscribe / idle ;; Valid only in Authenticated or Selected state idle ::= "IDLE" CRLF "DONE" Leiba Standards Track