imaplib2

library3.6pypypi✓ verified 84d ago

imaplib2 is a threaded Python IMAP4 client library, compatible with Python 3.6+. Version 3.6 is the latest stable release. It is maintained by the Jazzband community and provides an alternative to the standard library's imaplib, with threading support and improved performance.

http-networking communication

pip install imaplib2

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · IMAPLIB2

imaplib2

http-networkingpythonv3.6

Install

1.5s avg

Import

29ms

Disk

16MB

Pass rate

10/ 10

Env Coverage10 / 10

glibc

3.9–3.13

musl

3.9–3.13

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v3.6 · pip install

no network on importno background threads

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 0.0s · import 0.030s · 17.9MB

glibc

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 1.5s · import 0.028s · 18MB

16MB installed

● package 16MB

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

IMAP4

✓ from imaplib2 import IMAP4

✗ import imaplib2

Direct import of imaplib2 without using submodule will not expose IMAP4 class.

Connect to an IMAP server, login, select inbox, and search for all messages.

import os from imaplib2 import IMAP4 with IMAP4('imap.example.com') as M: M.login(os.environ['USER'], os.environ['PASS']) M.select() typ, data = M.search(None, 'ALL') print(data)

Debug

Known issues

deprecatedimaplib2 3.x drops support for SSL/TLS context parameters like `keyfile` and `certfile`. Use `ssl_context` instead.

fix

Replace `keyfile` and `certfile` arguments with `ssl.SSLContext` object passed to `IMAP4_SSL`.

affects: >=3.0

breakingIn version 3.x, the `IMAP4` class no longer supports direct SSL without using `IMAP4_SSL`. Plain `IMAP4` is for non-SSL connections only.

fix

Use `IMAP4_SSL` for SSL connections, not `IMAP4`.

affects: >=3.0

gotchaThe library is thread-safe but not fork-safe. Using `os.fork()` after creating an IMAP connection may lead to undefined behavior.

fix

Avoid forking after establishing an IMAP session. Reconnect in child processes if needed.

affects: all

Errors

Common errors & fixes

AttributeError: module 'imaplib2' has no attribute 'IMAP4'

Import statement is `import imaplib2` but the class is in submodules.

fix

Use `from imaplib2 import IMAP4` or `import imaplib2; imaplib2.IMAP4` (imaplib2 exposes IMAP4 as alias).

imaplib2.IMAP4.error: command SEARCH illegal in state NONAUTH

Trying to execute commands before login or after logout.

fix

Ensure you call `login()` or `authenticate()` before any mailbox commands.

imaplib2.IMAP4.abort: connection closed unexpectedly

Server timeout or network issue; library raises abort on connection loss.

fix

Implement reconnect logic. Use try/except and re-instantiate connection.

Upgrade

Version history

3.6latest on PyPI · released Jun 10, 2021

Audit

Dependencies

No dependency data recorded yet.

Agent activity

33 hits · last 30 days

node

OpenAI (training)

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/jazzband/imaplib2 ↗

packagehttps://pypi.org/project/imaplib2/ ↗