RFC 3348 (rfc3348) - Page 1 of 6
The Internet Message Action Protocol (IMAP4) Child Mailbox Extension
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group M. Gahrns
Request for Comments: 3348 R. Cheng
Category: Informational Microsoft
July 2002
The Internet Message Action Protocol (IMAP4)
Child Mailbox Extension
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2002). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
The Internet Message Action Protocol (IMAP4) CHILDREN extension
provides a mechanism for a client to efficiently determine if a
particular mailbox has children, without issuing a LIST "" * or a
LIST "" % for each mailbox.
1. Conventions used in this document
In examples, "C:" and "S:" indicate lines sent by the client and
server respectively. If such lines are wrapped without a new "C:" or
"S:" label, then the wrapping is for editorial clarity and is not
part of the command.
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC-2119].
2. Introduction and Overview
Many IMAP4 [RFC-2060] clients present to the user a hierarchical view
of the mailboxes that a user has access to. Rather than initially
presenting to the user the entire mailbox hierarchy, it is often
preferable to show to the user a collapsed outline list of the
mailbox hierarchy (particularly if there is a large number of
mailboxes). The user can then expand the collapsed outline hierarchy
as needed. It is common to include within the collapsed hierarchy a
Gahrns, et al. Informational