What distinguishes IMAP from POP regarding email message storage?

IMAP, which stands for Internet Message Access Protocol, is specifically designed to keep email messages stored on the server rather than downloading them to a local device. This enables users to access their emails from multiple devices seamlessly, as the messages remain on the server and are synchronized across all platforms. This means that actions performed on one device, such as reading, deleting, or moving messages to folders, are reflected in real-time on any other device that accesses the same email account.

In contrast, while POP (Post Office Protocol) is an older protocol primarily designed for downloading emails to a single device, it generally removes messages from the server after they have been retrieved. This typically results in messages being stored locally and not synced across various devices.

Therefore, the correct answer highlights that IMAP's key feature is its ability to store messages on the server, facilitating greater flexibility and access for users compared to the more device-centric approach of POP, which does not support the same level of multi-device synchronization and storage.