Javascript IMAP and SMTP client? [closed]

Question

Is it possible to build a SMTP/IMAP client that can run in the browser that uses only Javascript?

Answer 1

It's currently not possible to do in a normal web app in the browser. It is however possible to do in packaged apps with access to privileged APIs:

• Firefox Apps use the emerging W3C standard TCPSocket
• Chrome Apps use a proprietary API chrome.socket

If you're looking for a battle-proven library, whiteout.io develops and maintains a well-tested IMAP / SMTP / MIME-codec implementation in pure JS: emailjs.

It's MIT licensed and free to use.

Answer 2

Agree with Daniel, its not possible in javascript.

There is a new WebSockets API that's going to be added to browsers to allow communication over sockets, but even after that is introduced it will NOT be possible. WebSockets API goes to great lengths to ensure such a thing is not possible, because it is a security risk.