Class IMAP4

Lib/imaplib.py:135–1420

r"""IMAP4 client class. Instantiate with: IMAP4([host[, port[, timeout=None]]]) host - host's name (default: localhost); port - port number (default: standard IMAP4 port). timeout - socket timeout (default: None) If timeout is not given

class IMAP4:

    r"""IMAP4 client class.

    Instantiate with: IMAP4([host[, port[, timeout=None]]])

            host - host's name (default: localhost);
            port - port number (default: standard IMAP4 port).
            timeout - socket timeout (default: None)
                      If timeout is not given or is None,
                      the global default socket timeout is used

    All IMAP4rev1 commands are supported by methods of the same
    name (in lowercase).

    All arguments to commands are converted to strings, except for
    AUTHENTICATE, and the last argument to APPEND which is passed as
    an IMAP4 literal.  If necessary (the string contains any
    non-printing characters or white-space and isn't enclosed with
    either parentheses or double quotes) each string is quoted.
    However, the 'password' argument to the LOGIN command is always
    quoted.  If you want to avoid having an argument string quoted
    (eg: the 'flags' argument to STORE) then enclose the string in
    parentheses (eg: "(\Deleted)").

    Each command returns a tuple: (type, [data, ...]) where 'type'
    is usually 'OK' or 'NO', and 'data' is either the text from the
    tagged response, or untagged results from command. Each 'data'
    is either a string, or a tuple. If a tuple, then the first part
    is the header of the response, and the second part contains
    the data (ie: 'literal' value).

    Errors raise the exception class <instance>.error("<reason>").
    IMAP4 server errors raise <instance>.abort("<reason>"),
    which is a sub-class of 'error'. Mailbox status changes
    from READ-WRITE to READ-ONLY raise the exception class
    <instance>.readonly("<reason>"), which is a sub-class of 'abort'.

    "error" exceptions imply a program error.
    "abort" exceptions imply the connection should be reset, and
            the command re-tried.
    "readonly" exceptions imply the command should be re-tried.

    Note: to use this module, you must read the RFCs pertaining to the
    IMAP4 protocol, as the semantics of the arguments to each IMAP4
    command are left to the invoker, not to mention the results. Also,
    most IMAP servers implement a sub-set of the commands available here.
    """

    class error(Exception): pass    # Logical errors - debug required
    class abort(error): pass        # Service errors - close and retry
    class readonly(abort): pass     # Mailbox status changed to READ-ONLY
    class _responsetimeout(TimeoutError): pass # No response during IDLE

    def __init__(self, host='', port=IMAP4_PORT, timeout=None):
        self.debug = Debug
        self.state = 'LOGOUT'
        self.literal = None             # A literal argument to a command