IPA IP 2026 Question 68
A question IPA Japan published in 令和8年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問68, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Which of the following is an appropriate combination of protocols that e-mail software uses for sending and receiving e-mail?
Explanation
Sending: SMTP, receiving: IMAP4 — e-mail software sends with SMTP and receives with POP3 or IMAP4.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) carries a message from the e-mail software to the mail server, and between mail servers. To read mail that has arrived, the software fetches it from the mail server with POP3, which downloads the messages, or IMAP4, which manages them on the server so several devices see the same mailbox. Only option (d) has a sending protocol and a receiving protocol in the right columns.
Answer (d)
Why not others:
- •(a) — IMAP4 is a receiving protocol, not a sending one
- •(b) — both columns are reversed: IMAP4 receives and SMTP sends
- •(c) — also reversed: POP3 receives and SMTP sends
Key rule: SMTP sends (and relays) mail; POP3 and IMAP4 receive it, POP3 by downloading and IMAP4 by keeping the mail on the server.
Networks · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.